First Aid for People with Mental Health Illness (2 days)

Overview:

1 in 4 people in Wales are suffering from some form of mental health issue at any one time.
The course is backed by the Welsh Assembly Government and MIND Cymru and participants will receive a MHFA certificate and manual.

Aims & Objectives:

Aims & Objectives:

The learner will be able to:

  • Describe what is meant by the terms mental health/mental ill health
  • Describe the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems
  • Describe the range of effective interactive treatments and interventions
  • Describe how to access help and support
  • Give initial help to someone experiencing a mental health problem
  • Deal with a crisis situation or the first signs of someone developing a mental health problem

Learning outcomes:

Participants will have a better understanding of Mental Health and Mental Distress, and will gain confidence, knowledge and competence in dealing with the issues

Course Outline:

Day 1

Morning

  • What does Mental Health mean to you?
  • Mental Health Quiz
  • Common names for mental health problems
  • Why Mental Health First Aid?
  • The 5 basic steps
  • Attitudes to mental health
  • Impact of mental health problems
  • Depression

Afternoon

  • Introducing MHFA for suicide and depression
  • Suicidal feelings
  • Substance misuse and suicide
  • First aid for depression - suicide
  • What to do if…
  • Listening skills
  • What helps for depression
  • Review
  • Self-care

Day 2

Morning

  • The experience of anxiety
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Types of anxiety disorders
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Alcohol, drugs and anxiety disorders
  • Caffeine
  • First aid for anxiety disorders
  • First aid for panic attacks
  • First aid for PTSD
  • What works for anxiety
  • What is self harm?
  • Responding to self-harm

Afternoon

  • Introduction to psychotic disorders
  • Symptoms and causes of psychotic disorders
  • The experience of hearing voices
  • Identify common symptoms of mania
  • Recovery from schizophrenia
  • The impact of alcohol and drugs
  • MHFA for psychosis
  • Dealing with threatening voices/hallucinations
  • What helps for psychosis
  • Other expressions of distress
  • Action planning
  • Evaluation
  • Assessment -via a attitudes based quiz
  • Interactive Exercises
  • Individual and Group Exercises
  • Discussion
  • Visual Aids e.g. audio/visual
  • Feedback Activity
  • Final Assessment - an action plan

The course is delivered only by a qualified and approved instructor.

  • The opportunity to develop their own knowledge and skills and apply this in the workplace and in their personal lives.
  • A chance to learn how to give immediate short term support to someone experiencing mental distress
  • Knowing where and how to access help and support

Intended For:

This is a course for all disciplines, and all levels/grades of staff, but particularly relevant for those who are likely to come into contact with people experiencing mental distress, such as police, nurses, community workers and family members.

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