Duration: 8 Hour course taught in one day or (2) four hour sessions.
Website: http://www.mhfamo.org/
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Training Description
Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common supports. This 8 hour course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect persons to the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of specific types of illnesses like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.
Objectives
Mental Health First Aid teaches participants a five-step action plan, ALGEE, to support someone developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis:
Like CPR, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect the person with help. First Aiders do not take on the role of professionals —they do not diagnose or provide any counseling or therapy. Instead, the program offers concrete tools and answers key questions, like “what do I do?” and “where can someone find help?” Certified Mental Health First Aid instructors provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support. All trainees receive a program manual to compliment the course material.
Accreditation
Mental Health First Aid is included on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
MIMH has provided program evaluation services to agencies in the community, statewide and nationally for the past 40 years. With expertise in both process and outcome evaluation, MIMH has worked hand-in-hand with organizations to improve program services and assess program effectiveness.
The MIMH has strong expertise conducting comprehensive needs assessments for local and state agencies in the area of mental health. Using a wide array of data collection methods, including stakeholder interviews, focus groups, surveys and analysis of secondary data, the MIMH can provide essential information that can be used for organizational prioritization and decision-making.
The instructor will introduce concepts of drug action in the body. Basic concepts of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics will enable the learner to understand the therapeutic and adverse actions of drugs. Discussion will center on the rationale for drug use in psychiatric illnesses. The major classes of medications will be reviewed, including a discussion of the specific therapeutic action and side effects of agents in each class of drugs. Side effects that need immediate attention, that may present harm to staff or the client, or present as intoxication will be highlighted. Often clients do not adhere to their prescribed medication regimen, leading to a return of symptoms. The major reasons for nonadherence and strategies for encouraging clients to take their medications will be discussed. Time will be available to discuss questions during the presentation.