Mental Health First Aid in the United States after a year
starting a new program is a bit like eating an elephant. Even if you have a great vision and a great goal, you have to take a bite in attack after another.
This is the approach that has taken over starting with Mental Health First Aid in the United States. We see Mental Health First Aid are as common as CPR and first aid in the next fifteen years. Some call that shows an elephant, but the results of our first year of the program that the challenge is immense feasible, especially with a few extra big bite.
have been since its launch last year, more than 300 trainers in Mental Health First Aid, a program that builds the mental health literacy and teaches non-medical basic skills of how someone experienced a mental health problem or certified to be a crisis. A Mental Health First Aid learning support, to resolve the problem or to other appropriate assistance is being engaged.
It is obvious that mental health “first aid” is the right program at the right time. When we began this initiative, we had hoped to introduce more than twenty organizations certify Mental Health First Aid in their communities. Starting this summer, the official end of our pilot year we had almost one hundred fifty organizations to the program.
The growth of the program, the National Board has not many leaders who were surprised to among the first to Mental Health First Aid. “The multiple victories of the program were clear from the start,” said Dr. Carl Clark, first vice chairman of the National Council and CEO of the Mental Health Center of Denver, one of the first pilot sites. “We can increase community resilience provide potential partners an easy-to service, expand our focus beyond serious mental illness, and to continue to secure our role as community problem solvers.”
Don Miskowiec the North Central Behavioral Health Systems agrees. “Even though we are dealing with devastating and challenging budget cuts here in Illinois, we are committed to mental health first aid. If anything, it is more necessary today in our environment.” After attending the initial training, Miskowiec center has six more teachers to his team for 2009
The program focuses on three key elements. to recognize warning signs, increased capabilities to reach about people, people with mental health challenges, and understanding can help the professionalism and self-help groups supported.
from hospitals to colleges and the workplace and the general public to address Mental Health First Aid not only stigma, but also the genuine desire of someone who is fighting to help. Mental Health First Aid is reaching it’s okay. So often people want to help, but we are not sure what to do and do not risk it the “wrong” thing. Mental Health First Aid teaches participants that it is okay, not all the answers and increase their comfort.
have still said, the National Council of the Australian founders and the state governments in Maryland and Missouri Partnership, to ensure that we have a clear, evidence-based, Unified Mental Health First Aid curriculum in the United States. In addition, the National Council created and refined the teacher training program takes community involvement and partnership with the University of Maryland and SAMHSA to evaluate the fidelity of the U.S. program with the Australian original. And provides ongoing support to the National MHFA program websites and instructors through individual consultation, technical assistance and a site instructors Listserve. This spring the National MHFA E-News was launched monthly newsletter delivered to update and share successes, and keep up the momentum.
It is important that we continue our relationship with the teachers. We identify new ways of knowledge and results from around the country and the following common needs, such as additional programs and standardized evaluation instruments.
recognition that the popularity of Mental Health First Aid will also increase the need for substantial assistance, capacity and branding, I must emphasize that the National Council is in this for the long haul. The pilot success is both fulfilling and a little intimidating. Maybe a bit like eating an elephant.