Mental Health First Aid

You are more likely to encounter a person in an emotional crisis than someone having a heart attack. Would you know what to do?

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common supports. This nationally-recognized training course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect persons to the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of specific mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.

Mental Health First Aid teaches participants a five-step action plan, ALGEE, to support loved ones, colleagues, neighbors, and others experiencing a mental health or substance use problem or an emotional crisis:

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm
• Listen nonjudgmentally
  
• Give reassurance and information
  
• Encourage appropriate professional help
  
• Encourage self-help and other support strategies

DBSA is proud to offer Mental Health First Aid training courses from our unique perspective as the leading national peer-directed mental health organization, adding to the legitimacy and power of this public education effort. 

Contact DBSA for information on bringing a Mental Health First Aid training course to your location for groups of 10-30.

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