Mental Health First Aid USA A Collaborative Partnership National Council for Behavioral Health Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Missouri Department of Mental Health

What Is Mental Health First Aid?  Help offered to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis  Given until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves  Not a substitute for counseling, medical care, peer support or treatment

What You Learn  Overview of mental health problems Depressive/Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Disorders in which psychosis occurs Substance use disorders Eating disorders  Mental Health First Aid for crisis situations  Mental Health First Aid for non-crisis situations

Program Milestones  Created in Australia in 2001 (University of Melbourne)  Currently in 17 countries  Piloted in the U.S. in 2008  Youth program Pilot in 2012

Evidenced Effectiveness  Four published randomized control trials and a qualitative study (in Australia) Increases mental health literacy Expands individuals’ knowledge of how to help someone in crisis Connects individuals to needed services Reduces stigma  Study on 33 US college campuses Increased mental health literacy Reduction in social distance (decreased stigma) MHFA has been added to the Federal Registry of Evidenced-based Programs effective 7/18/13

Why Mental Health First Aid?  Mental health problems are common  Stigma is associated with mental health problems  Professional help is not always on hand  Individuals with mental health problems often do not seek help  Many people… are not well informed about mental health problems do not know how to respond

Workplace Impact of Mental Illness 7  Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages  An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults —suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year  Serious mental illnesses (SMIs), which afflict about 6% of American adults, cost society $193.2 billion a year in lost earnings  Behavioral health issues cause 217 million missed workdays annually  Depression was identified as the most costly health condition among a group of 10 large employers when combining costs from medical, pharmacy, absenteeism, and presenteeism ( Source: 2010 Disability Management Employer Coalition Report)

Spectrum of Mental Health Interventions

MHFA ACTION PLAN  Assess for risk of suicide or harm  Listen nonjudgmentally  Give reassurance and information  Encourage appropriate professional help  Encourage self-help and other support strategies 9

AK 859 (20) HI 0 (1) PR 148 (2) WA 2,867 (56) OR 1,567 (28) CA 14,714 (514) NV 201 (2) ID 425 (11) MT 215 (4) WY 14 (1) UT 571 (27) AZ 3,960 (86) CO 6,540 (169) NM 3,181 (63) TX 4,715 (197) OK 1,378 (26) KS 4,319 (98) NE 440 (13) SD 1,137 (25) ND 319 (3) MN 1,765 (24) IA 6,175 (92) MO 7,473 (291) AR 525 (13) LA 123 (4) MS 857 (68) AL 629 (10) GA 2,339 (84) FL 1,126 (53) SC 116 (5) TN WV 0 (1) OH 922 (24) IN 478 (30) IL 6,149 (118) KY 377 (12) MI 4,192 (87) NY 2,161 (67) PA 5,052 (182) NC 1,758 (31) VA 2,037 (61) WI 329 (9) 809 (23) 0.1% or more 0.04%-0.99% 0.025%-0.039% 0.01%-0.024% Less than 0.01% No data PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION TRAINED ALGEE-OMETER Over 100,000 First Aiders in the US Trained by over 3,000 Instructors MD 3,735 (217) DE 65 (3) NJ 663 (17) CT 1,740 (27) RI 304 (7) MA 760 (26 ) NH 10 (1) DC 825 (41) VT 233 (35) GUAM 37 (0)

MHFA: Benefits  MHFA creates proven results  MHFA is relevant for many different populations and places including school, community, workplace and home  MHFA is low cost and sustainable  MHFA supports workplace wellness  MHFA is an expression of Corporate Social Responsibility  MHFA is a key national resource for EAP programs and HR professionals

MHFA-Adult Training Program  The Mental Health First Aid program is an interactive session which runs 8 hours and presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S.  MHFA-Adult training introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and gives overview of common treatments.  Participants learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

MHFA Training Programs Youth Mental Health First Aid  Mental Health First Aid USA is proud to announce a new curriculum focused on helping youth (ages 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or in a crisis.  The course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder.

MHFA-Youth Training Program  Participants learn a core five-step action plan to support an adolescent developing signs and symptoms of mental illness or in an emotional crisis.  The course is designed for adults whom regularly interact with adolescents, but may also be appropriate for older adolescents (16 and older) so as to encourage youth peer to peer interaction.  Anyone who regularly works or interacts with youth – teachers, athletic coaches, mentors, juvenile justice professionals – may find the course content useful.

Vision By 2020, Mental Health First Aid in the USA will be as common as CPR and First Aid

Mental Health First Aid at CMHCM

 One certified MHFA Instructor which includes the Rural designation.  Currently offering one session in each county per year  Cost is $25.00 per participant and includes: MHFA manual  Lunch Refreshments

Mental Health First Aid at CMHCM  CMHCM will have two certified MHFA trainers.  CMHCM will offer Youth and Adult MHFA training  MHFA-Adult & MHFA-Youth have been approved for 8 Social Work Continuing Education Units (SWCEU)  MHFA Training Assistant positions are available for consumers  Training will be advertised & offered monthly.  Cost will remain $25.00  Training may be offered in one 8 hour day or two 4 hour sessions.  A course designed for Law Enforcement Personnel is scheduled for release in 2014.

Mental Health First Aid At CMHCM  Marketing and advertising of courses includes: Newspaper articles, press releases, online newspaper advertising Constant Contact listing of 181 community agencies, schools and faith groups Facebook Radio advertising CMHCM external website Brochures available at health fairs and other community events All courses are listed on MHFA website CMHCM PDs, Supported Employment staff and consumer groups are informed of course dates County Collaboratives are informed of training dates

Mental Health First Aid at CMHCM Feedback from a participant: About 2 months after our training, one of my students who was in the class experienced her mother's attempted suicide. Having had the training she suspected something was very wrong with how her mother had spoke with her on the phone and clued her father in with her concern. He was able to get home and call 911 in time to save her mother. This student called me from the emergency room to tell me thanks, as her participation in your class heightened her awareness about suicide and gave her the knowledge of how to respond. Thank you for what you do.

Mental Health First Aid USA For More Information: 22