Mental Health First Aid
First aid is the help given to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained. Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves.
While people often know a lot about common physical health problems, there is widespread ignorance of mental health problems. This ignorance adds to stigmatising attitudes and prevents people from seeking help early and seeking the best sort of help. It also prevents people providing appropriate support to colleagues and family members, simply because they do not know how.
In order to help people provide initial support for someone with a mental health problem, a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course has been developed.
Participants receive a course manual and also a certificate at the completion of the course. Those who have completed the course have been very positive about the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
Mental Health First Aid courses are conducted in every state and territory of Australia. The participants have been very varied, including teachers, nurses, case managers, support workers, social welfare staff, employment agencies staff, personnel staff and members of the general public.
ACCESS COMMUNITY GROUP WILL BE RUNNING MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID ON THE 18TH & 19TH OF AUGUST 2010 AT OUR CORRIMAL OFFICE. FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT US!