Imagine a friend or colleague is experiencing a panic attack, reacting to a traumatic event, or dealing with a substance use disorder. What should you say? How can you help?
Most of us would know what to do if we saw someone having a heart attack—we’d start CPR, or at the very least, call 911. Now, an international program being offered locally can provide the skills to identify, understand and respond to signs of addiction and mental illness. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course designed to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems. The training is not designed to be a substitute for professional intervention and treatment, but rather a way to support to someone in crisis. Participants learn about potential risk factors and warning signs, strategies for supporting someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
MHFA training offers a five-step “ALGEE” action plan that can be used in a variety of situations to:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies
The virtual training opportunity will soon be offered by North Texas Healthy Communities, the nonprofit outreach arm of Texas Health Resources that facilitates community well-being improvement initiatives and supports Blue Zones Project in Fort Worth. The goal is to create an army of “Mental Health First Aiders” who support mental health efforts.
“If we want to build a healthy community, we need to focus on supporting both physical and mental well-being,” explained Matt Dufrene, vice president of Blue Zones Project. “That means giving people the tools and training to respond appropriately when they see someone dealing with mental health or substance use challenges.”
MHFA focuses on recovery and resiliency – with the belief that individuals experiencing mental health or substance use issues can get better and use their strength to stay well. “I think a program like this is really important, especially during this isolation time during COVID,” said Ashley Mortimer, program director at LVTRise in Fort Worth. “I was really excited to participate in this training because it gave me and my colleagues strategies and resources to respond to people in need around us.”
MHFA is a day-long training course, and participants receive credentials similar to CPR certification—along with a wealth of knowledge to use in the future. Training opportunities will be available beginning in June. To learn more, email BlueZonesProject@TexasHealth.org.