An Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Health

An Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Health First Aid Canada Mental Health Commission of Canada Presented by: Shawna Lee

Learning Objectives • Consider the disabling nature of many mental illnesses • Increase mental health literacy • Discover how Mental Health First Aid completes your first aid training / 2

Overview of Presentation • • What is MHFA? Origin of MHFA & International growth MHFA & the Mental Health Commission of Canada Evidence-Based • Course Content: Basic MHFA / 3

What is Mental Health First Aid? Help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved. / 4

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID • Supports the Mental Health Strategy for Canada “People need knowledge and skills which help them to recognize mental health problems and illnesses, in themselves or others, so that everyone can obtain the support that they need as early as possible. . . Ideally, acquiring this kind of knowledge of mental health and mental illness will become as widespread as training in first aid for physical injuries and illnesses. ” • Supports the Action Guide for Employers “The enhancement of knowledge about psychological health to facilitate recognition, identification, and management of psychological problems. ” • Will support the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety / 5

MHFA does not train people to become counselors or therapists. / 6

What is Mental Health First Aid? Three primary objectives and outcomes: 1. Increase recognition of signs and symptoms (specific component) 2. Increase helping behaviour (specific component) 3. Decrease stigma (woven throughout the course) The ability to start conversations, provide encouragement, and steer toward appropriate resources are included. / 7

Aims of Mental Health First Aid • Preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others. • Provide help to prevent the mental health problem from developing into a more serious state. • Promote the recovery of good mental health. • Provide comfort to a person experiencing a mental health problem. / 8

Rationale • 1 in 3 people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime • Members of the general public often do not know how to respond are not well informed about Mental Health problems • Not everyone with a Mental Health problem seeks help • There is STIGMA associated with Mental Health problems • Early intervention can ease suffering and prevent complications • Mental Illnesses are among the most disabling / 9

“Disability” Refers to the amount of disruption that a health problem causes to a person’s ability to work, look after themselves and carry on their relationships with family and friends. Arrange the slips from least to most disabling. (Some conditions may be equally disabling) / 10

How Disabling is Mental Illness? • • • / 11 Gingivitis Mild asthma Low back pain, uncomplicated diabetes Mild depression, epilepsy Mild/moderate panic disorder Anorexia, mild/moderate OCD, non-invasive breast cancer Moderate depression, severe asthma, complete hearing loss, chronic hepatitis B infection Severe vision loss, operable small cell lung cancer Severe post-traumatic stress disorder, paraplegia Severe depression, brain injury with permanent impairments Severe schizophrenia, quadriplegia, end-stage Parkinson’s, severe dementia

Disabling Nature of Mental Illnesses • Mental illness can be a major cause of long -term disability • Of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide, five are mental illnesses / 12

MHFA’s Origin and International Growth MHFA in 23 countries / 13 • Developed, Australia 2001 • Orygen Research, University of Melbourne • Dr. Anthony Jorm, Researcher Betty Kitchener

The Course Basic Adult: 12 hours / 2 days / 4 sessions Adults who work with Youth: 14 hours / 2 days / 4 sessions MHFA Northern People: 21 hours/3 days Instructor Training: 5 days – basic & youth/ 6 days- NP Upcoming Adaptations for: First Nations Inuit Seniors Veterans / 14

About MHFA and MHCC • MHFA Canada is a program of The Mental Health Commission of Canada [MHCC] • MHCC: - Mission: promote mental health in Canada, and work with stakeholders to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems, and to improve services and support. - Vision: a society that values and promotes mental health and helps people who live with mental health problems and mental illness lead meaningful and productive lives. / 15

Evidence-Based Over 16 Published Evaluations International research has shown that this evidencebased course offers significant positive impacts for participants and their workplaces, communities, and families, namely: • Significantly greater recognition of the most common mental health problems • Decreased social distance from people with mental health problems • Increased confidence in providing help to others • Improved mental health of the MHFA participant her/himself / 16

MHFA Course Content • Explanations of mental health, mental illness and mental health problems • Signs and symptoms of common mental health problems and crisis situations • Information about effective interventions and treatments • Ways to access professional help / 17

Basic MHFA Course Content 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. / 18 Mental Health & Mental Health Problems Substance-Related Disorders • Understanding signs & Mood Disorders symptoms Anxiety Disorders • How to Help (MHFA) Psychotic Disorders

Crisis First Aid Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis: • Suicidal behaviour • Overdoses • Panic Attacks • Reactions to traumatic events • Psychotic episodes Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is provided until appropriate support is found or until the crisis is resolved. / 19

Participant Course Delivery MHFA Course Delivery Options: • 2 consecutive days or spaced • 4 three-hour modules over time • All participants receive the Mental Health First Aid Canada certificate contingent on attending the full 2 -days • Variety of learning tools: • • / 20 Lecture Case Studies Role Play Videos

Why MHFA for professors? • 50% of all mental illnesses begin by age 14 • 75% of all mental illnesses begin by age 24 • Changes in attendance and assignments may be signs of a developing mental health problems • Youth may be reluctant to speak with their parents, and look to another trusted adult to speak with about changes in mental health / 21

Participant Feedback “The course was great! Informative and interesting. ” “Each topic is covered with the right amount of depth and info” “I really enjoyed this course. ” “Valuable for all professionals working with youth. ” “The content really met my needs. ” “I will use the info in my personal and professional life. ” “Extremely helpful because it gave actual and realistic strategies. ” / 22

Thank you! Check out the PD Calendar for MHFA training ongoing! Shawna. lee@senecacollege. ca X 55377 For more information on Mental Health First Aid Visit: www. mentalhealthcommission. ca or www. mentalhealthfirstaid. ca Follow us: The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. Les opinions exprimées aux présentes sont celles de la Commission de la santé mentale du Canada. La production de ce document a été rendue possible grâce à la contribution financière de Santé Canada. / 23