Psychological First Aid: Mental Health First Aid

Psychological First Aid- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. More than 200,000 Canadians have been trained since 2007.

MHFA Basic is intended for adults interacting with adults (18 years and older). This course focuses on the four most common mental health disorders including substance related, mood related, anxiety and trauma related, and psychotic disorders. Participants who take this course are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health with their family, friends, communities, and workplaces.

Course Length: 12 hours over 2 days

Key Outcomes

International evaluations and feedback have found the following outcomes for participants undertaking an MHFA course:

• Increased awareness of signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems
• Decreased stigma related to mental health
• Increased confidence interacting with individuals experiencing a mental health problem or crisis
• Increased help actually provided to individuals in crisis or experiencing a mental health problem

Stigma

There is stigma associated with mental health problems. Evidence shows that taking an MHFA courses reduces social distance between the participant and someone experiencing a mental health problem.

Awareness

One person in five will experience a mental health problem this year.

Evidence shows that MHFA course participants increase their awareness of signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems.

Confidence

The most difficult part of intervening is knowing what to say. Evidence shows that taking an MHFA course increases the confidence participants have in engaging someone experiencing a mental health problem or crisis

Course model

In the MHFA course, you will gain a solid understanding of the 5 basic actions of *ALGEE*:

Assess the risk of suicide and/or harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance
Encourage professional support
Encourage other supports

ALGEE is the framework for having a confident conversation about mental health with family, friends, colleagues, and strangers.

Course Sections

1. Mental Health and Stigma

• What is Mental Health First Aid?
• Common mental health problems
• Five basic actions of mental health first aid
• Stigma and discrimination

2. Substance-related disorders

• What is a substance-related disorder?
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• MHFA for substance-related problems
• Crisis first aid for overdose
• Treatment and resources

3. Mood-related disorders

• What is a mood-related disorder?
• Types of mood-related disorders
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• Substance use and mood disorders
• Suicide in Canada
• MHFA for mood-related problems
• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
• Treatment and resources

4. Anxiety and trauma-related disorders

• What are anxiety and trauma related disorders?
• Types of anxiety and trauma related disorders
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• Substance use and anxiety related disorders
• MHFA for anxiety and trauma related problems
• Crisis first aid for panic attacks
• Crisis first aid for acute stress reactions
• Treatment and resource

5. Psychotic disorders

• What is a psychotic disorder?
• Types of psychotic disorders
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors
• Substance use and psychotic disorders
• MHFA for anxiety problems
• Crisis first aid for psychotic episodes