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MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
A Collaborative Partnership of
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare,
Maryland State Department of Mental Hygiene and Missouri Department of Mental Health
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Mental Health First Aid
The help provided to a person developing a
mental health problem or experiencing a
crisis until professional treatment is
received or the crisis resolves.
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Why Mental Health First Aid?
• Mental health problems are common.
• Mental health problems can be successfully treated and
people can get better.
• There is stigma associated with mental health problems.
• Many people are not well informed about mental health
problems.
• Professional help is not always on hand.
• People often do not know how to respond.
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History of
Mental Health First Aid
• In 2001, Betty Kitchener and Tony Jorm developed the
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Program at the
Center for Mental Health Research at the Australian
National University.
• The National Council for Community Behavioral
Healthcare has adapted the program for use in
America and is in charge of expanding MHFA across
the United States. All instructors are certified by the
National Council after completing a week-long
instructor course.
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Mental Health First Aid
• Expanded to more than 14 countries:
•
Cambodia, Canada, England, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, New
Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore,
South Africa, Thailand, and Wales
• Piloted in the U.S. in 2008
• Iowa was one of the initial sites chosen for implementation and
currently has 120 certified instructors of the 12 hour MHFA
course.
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Evidenced Effectiveness
• Four published randomized control trials and a
qualitative study (in Australia)
 Increases mental health literacy and understanding of
treatment
 Expands individuals’ knowledge of how to help someone in
crisis
 Connects individuals to needed services
 Reduces stigma
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Vision for MHFA in U.S.
Mental Health First
Aid will be as
commonplace in 15
years as CPR and
First-Aid are today.
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MHFA by the Numbers
(2008-Mid 2009)
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330 instructors certified
36 state presence
180+ community trainings to date
3000+ people trained
1,000,000 media impressions
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Activity!
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MENTAL ILLNESS IS DISABLING
The burden of mental illness is often underestimated.
Mental illness can be more disabling for the person
than many chronic physical illnesses.
Research by WHO compared the amount of disability
caused by a mental health problem to the amount of disability
caused by a physical health problem.
The disability impact from moderate depression is similar to the
disability from relapsing MS, severe asthma, chronic Hepatitis B or
deafness.
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PERCENTAGE OF AMERICAN ADULTS WITH
A MENTAL DISORDER IN ONE YEAR
COMMON MENTAL
DISORDERS
Any Anxiety
Disorder
18.1 %
Any Substance
Use Disorder
9.1 %
Any Depressive
Disorder
6.7 %
SCHIZOPHRENIA
1.1 %
Source: “The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America” (2006 Revised), NIMH
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Impact on society….
Mental illness accounts for 15% of
the total economic burden of all
disease in the U.S. Untreated mental
disorders cost $79 billion in lost
productivity every year.
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Activity!
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People are Saying . . .
• “Just weeks after attending the training, I’ve already used the skills I
learned in Mental Health First Aid…”
– Hospital employee
• “I think any professionals who deal with people should take this
course, especially emergency personnel, teachers, . . .”
– Employment Services Professional
• “I now feel better prepared for what might happen.”
– Homeless Shelter volunteer
• “This info can help a person to become more understanding, rather
than judgmental, of someone with a mental illness”
– Community Member
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Trainings Offered In Iowa
• Trainings are currently tracked by the National Council
through a web-based system.
• For SFY 11-July 2010 through June 2011 1,230
individuals participated in 77 trainings across the state.
• These numbers are expected to increase in SFY 12 as new
instructors in previously underserved areas begin offering
training.
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Key Audiences
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hospitals and Health Centers
Employers
Faith communities
Schools
Law Enforcement / Justice
Nursing home staff
Families and caring citizens
Key Professions
Mental Health Authorities
Policymakers
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The Training…
12-hour training teaches 5-step action plan to better
support family members, friends and others in four
sections. The topics covered include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Depression
Suicide
Anxiety
Psychosis
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Eating disorders
Self Injury
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You will learn….
• The course provides basic mental health information
that has not always been readily available to the public,
helping reduce the fear and uncertainty that members of
the public may feel when dealing with a possible mental
health crisis.
• The course provides participants with information about
symptoms of developing mental disorders, and specific
actions that a person can take if faced with mental health
related crisis situations.
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You will learn….
> The prevalence of mental illness in the U.S and
their emotional and economic cost.
> Potential warning signs and risk factors of many
common behavioral health disorders.
> A 5-step action plan to help an individual in
crisis connect to professional care.
> Resources available to help someone with a
problem.
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You will learn….
> The MHFA Action Plan•
•
•
•
•
Assess for risk of harm or self/harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give encouragement
Encourage self-help strategies
Encourage professional help
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Assess
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Listen non-judgmentally
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Give encouragement
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Encourage Help
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Activity!
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What you can do….
“Mental Health First Aid, with its new focus
on recovery, has the power to transform
communities, the power to change beliefs and
the ability to connect people in ways they
never would have connected otherwise.”
- Larry Fricks
National Consumer Leader
National Alliance on Mental Illness
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12 hour Courses offered:
May 10th and 11th YSS Ames
June 7th and 8th YSS Ames
September 18th and 19th YSS Ames
More dates/locations TBA
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Additional Information:
www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org
www.YSS.org
Jason Haglund, Director of Treatment
jhaglund@yss.ames.ia.us
Andrea Dickerson, Residential Program Coordinator
adickerson@yss.ames.ia.us
Laura Bell, Prevention Specialist
lbell@yss.ames.ia.us