An Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Health First Aid CanadaMental Health Commission of Canada

Presented by: Shawna Lee

/ 2

• Consider the disabling nature of many mental illnesses

• Increase mental health literacy

• Discover how Mental Health First Aid completes your first aid training

Learning Objectives

/ 3

Overview of Presentation

•What is MHFA?

•Origin of MHFA & International growth

•MHFA & the Mental Health Commission of Canada

•Evidence-Based

•Course Content: Basic MHFA

/ 4

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.

What is Mental Health First Aid?

/ 5

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

/ 6

MHFA does not train people to become counselors or

therapists.

/ 7

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.

/ 8

• 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.

Aims of Mental Health First Aid

/ 9

• 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 and 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

Rationale

/ 10

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.

“Disability”

Arrange the slips from least to most disabling.

(Some conditions may be equally disabling)

/ 11

How Disabling is Mental Illness? • 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

/ 12

• Mental illness can be a major cause of long-term disability

• Of the 10 leading causes of disability world-wide, five are mental illnesses

Disabling Nature of Mental Illnesses

/ 13

MHFA’s Origin and International Growth

MHFA in 23 countries

• Developed, Australia 2001

• Orygen Research, University of Melbourne

• Dr. Anthony Jorm, Researcher Betty Kitchener

/ 14

The CourseBasic Adult: 12 hours / 2 days / 4 sessionsAdults who work with Youth: 14 hours / 2 days / 4 sessionsMHFA Northern People: 21 hours/3 daysInstructor Training: 5 days – basic & youth/ 6 days- NP

Upcoming Adaptations for:First NationsInuitSeniorsVeterans

/ 15

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.

/ 16

Evidence-BasedOver 16 Published Evaluations

International research has shown that this evidence-based 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

/ 17

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

/ 18

1. Mental Health & Mental Health Problems

2. Substance-Related Disorders

3. Mood Disorders

4. Anxiety Disorders

5. Psychotic Disorders

Basic MHFA Course Content

• Understanding signs & symptoms

• How to Help (MHFA)

/ 19

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.

/ 20

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: •Lecture•Case Studies•Role Play•Videos

/ 21

• 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

Why MHFA for professors?

/ 22

Participant Feedback

“The course was great! Informative and interesting.”

“The content really met my needs.” “Valuable for all

professionals working with youth.”

“Extremely helpful because it gave actual and realistic strategies.”

“I will use the info in my personal and professional life.”

“Each topic is covered with the right amount of depth and info”

“I really enjoyed this course.”

/ 23

Thank you!

Check out the PD Calendar for MHFA training ongoing!

Shawna.lee@senecacollege.ca X55377 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.