Mental Health First Aid

The root of most stigmas is generally fear. The stigma surrounding mental illnesses in America is no different:
fear of not understanding the problem, fear of doing or saying the "wrong" thing, and fear of not knowing what
to do when someone needs help.

Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help
someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence
behind the program demonstrates that it makes people feel more comfortable managing a crisis situation and
builds mental health literacy — helping the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness.

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
Mental Health First Aid was created by Professor Tony Jorm, a respected mental health literacy professor, and
Betty Kitchener, a nurse specializing in health education. The program is auspiced at the ORYGEN Research
Center at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Four detailed studies have been completed in Australia and nearly a dozen journal articles published on Mental Health First Aid’s impact on mental health literacy. One trial of 301 randomized participants found that those who trained in Mental Health First Aid have greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help, improved concordance with health professionals about treatments, and decreased stigmatizing attitudes. Unexpectedly, the study also found that Mental Health First Aid improved the mental health of the participants themselves. Findings from the other studies have echoed these outcomes.

To date, Mental Health First Aid has been replicated in England, Scotland, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, and
Singapore. At the Bert Nash Center, we truly value the supporting evidence and strive to achieve fidelity to the
original Mental Health First Aid program developed in Australia. In the next ten years, we hope that Mental
Health First Aid will become as common as CPR and First Aid training. It has the potential to reduce stigma,
improve mental health literacy, and empower individuals — the benefits are limitless!

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The goal of Mental Health First Aid is to increase mental health literacy. Mental Health First Aiders learn a
5-step process to assess a situation, select and implement appropriate interventions, and help the individual in
crisis connect with appropriate care. Participants learn the risk factors and warning signs of specific illnesses
such as anxiety, depression, psychosis and addiction; engage in experiential activities that build understanding
of the impact of illness; and learn information about evidence-supported treatment programs.
Like CPR training helps a non-medical professional assist an individual following a heart attack, Mental
Health First Aid training helps an individual who doesn’t have clinical training assist someone experiencing a
mental health crisis. In both situations, the goal is to help support an individual until appropriate professional
help arrives.

To sign up for upcoming classes, please email lgrieb@bertnash.org.

UPCOMING CLASSES

February 1, 8, 15, 22: 2-5pm classes held at the Bert Nash Center

March 2, 9, 23, 30: 4-7pm; classes held at the Bert Nash Center

May 4, 11, 18, 25: 4-7pm; classes held at the Bert Nash Center