First Aid courses are always a great idea. Knowing what to do when someone is sick or injured, how to tend to wounds and most importantly knowing when to engage the help of a trained professional are skills that are super important.
Mental Health First Aid is no different. A 'layperson' with first aid training would not try to fix a broken leg, or administer an anti venom for a snake bite - but they do know what to do to get the injured person to a hospital or other medical treatment. Similarly, a trained mental health first aider learns the steps to take to assist a person experiencing a mental health problem and how to then engage the help of a trained medical professional.
According to Mental Health First Aid Australia;
1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental health problem in any given year. That means that every person is likely to know someone who is experiencing a mental health problem, whether that is a family member, a friend or colleague. In fact, mental illness is now said to affect every Australian either directly or indirectly.
We need more mental health literacy and support skills in the community to help catch more Australians experiencing mental health problems and troubled times.
This is where Mental Health First Aid training can help.
Mental Health First Aid skills based, early-intervention training programs mobilise and empower communities by equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to recognise, connect and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.
Anyone can have a conversation that may save a life. Everyone should know how.
We at Zown are mental health first aid trained, both through a face to face training course with the wonderful Kim Huckerby from The Wellbeing Affect and from refreshed training online with Mental Health First Aid Australia.
Learn more about courses for Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid via The Wellbeing Affect here and other MHFA courses (online and face to face) here.