1. Helping Skills in Mental Health Facilitation
The goals of this section are to outline the qualities and skills needed to work in Mental Health Facilitation. This is a big picture look at the person and the process.
Module 2

2. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Like repairing a fine watch, but instead you:
Use words to explore feelings, solutions
Time questions appropriately
Communicate with empathy and patience
Equipped with Skills
This takes practice.
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

3. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Early Considerations
Purpose of the meeting
The person’s expectations
Duration of the first meeting
Number of meetings
Available resources
Desired outcome
In your groups, create a scenario and generate some possible answers to these questions based on that situation – have each group report on their scenario and resulting answers to the questions.
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

4. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Early Goals
Recognize that it may be “uneasy” at the beginning
Develop a non-threatening approach
Be reassuring so that the person:
Talks more freely
Feels less threatened
Is more likely to return
Engages in problem solving
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

5. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Personal Style
Sometimes you may be direct
“Let’s get down to business”
Sometimes you may be indirect
“It’s great to see you again”
Always pay attention to the person with whom you are working and what is best for that individual.
(This training will provide these skills.)
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

6. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Give Specifics
Explain what is likely to happen
Explain roles and limitations
Discuss logistics (such as time, place), and confidentiality
Check to see if the person understands
Let them know that you are a person who can listen to them and support their finding ways to approach their problems. You may also be able to tell them about some resources.
When you finish ask the person to repeat what has been heard so you can be sure of understanding – also ask for questions and answer them; if you don’t know the answer, say you will find out
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

7. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Gives a person clear direction about how the MHF process
How it can work
What can happen
Helps the person understand the general process and the skills involved in Mental Health Facilitation
A Good Start to Helping
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

8. The Mental Health Facilitation Process
Step 1: Get ready Step 2: Learn about the person Step 3: Learn about the problem Step 4: Consider various solutions Step 5: Connect the person to resources and/or help the person to achieve a solution Step 6: Close and follow-up
Your work with individuals will generally proceed this way:
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

9. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Step 1 Get Ready
Review all you know and believe about human beings, helping & your community
Consider where you will be speaking to the person, and prepare that space for as much privacy and as few distractions as possible
Remind yourself of your role and which MHF skills you may use in this situation
Practice with compassion, patience and dedication
preparing yourself
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

10. Step 2 Learn about the Person
Come together
Listen, listen, listen
Respond to the person’s story
Continue to listen and respond as this will lead to even more about the person and the situation
Step 2 Learn about the Person
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

11. Step 3 Learn about the Problem
Focus on what is most important to the person
Ask questions to understand better
Continue to sort things out with the person
Try to understand all aspects of the situation
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

12. Step 4 Consider a Variety of Solutions
Define the problem
Find out what has been tried
Determine other possibilities
Make choices
Develop a plan of action
Consider support
Step 4 Consider a Variety of Solutions
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

13. Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF
Working with a family
Working with a community
Using support systems that already exist such as faith groups
Finding traditional helping strategies
Looking for other supportive resources
Types of Support
Tell me about how someone in your area gets help with difficulties – what are the many ways?
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

14. Step 5: Connect to Resources or Help Implement a Solution
Define an action plan
Engage in problem-solving
Practice new behaviors
Use your referral skills
Connecting to resources and/or helping the person choose and implement a solution
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

15. Step 6: Close and Follow-up
Examine plans and progress
Check on referrals
Plan follow-up possibilities
Say good-bye
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

16. If You Believe You Cannot Help
Don’t worry
Admit it to the person
Help the person find appropriate help, including referral to medical and social services
Keep an up-to-date list of qualified professionals for referrals (counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists)
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF

17. Explore! What are three things I heard today that I want to remember?
What surprised me?
What questions do I still have?

18. Explore! At our next meeting, bring a picture that shows an emotion
It can be a family photograph or a picture from a magazine or book

19. Key Points to Unlock this Module
Early goals of the process includes being reassuring and non-threatening
A good start to helping includes providing specifics about the process
Help can be in many forms including providing a referral to a professional
Key Points to Unlock this Module
Module 2: Helping Skills in MHF