Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mental Health First Aid
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training course designed to you the key skills to help someone who is developing a
mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The
evidence behind the program demonstrates that it does build mental
health literacy, helping the public identify, understand and respond to
signs of mental illness.
Where did Mental Health First Aid start?
Mental Health First Aid was created in Australia in 2001 by Professor
Tony Jorm, a respected mental health literacy professor, and Betty
Kitchener, a nurse specializing in health education. The program is
auspiced at the ORYGEN Research Center at the University of Melbourne,
Australia.
www.mhfa.com.au
Who should take Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid is intended for a variety of audiences: friends
and family of individuals with mental illness or addiction, key
professionals (such as police officers, human resource directors and
primary care workers), school and college leadership, faith communities,
or anyone interested in learning more about mental illness and
addiction. The core program is tailored for response to the general
adult population.
How do I register?
Go back to the main
Mental Health First Aid course information page and click on one of the listed training dates to register and pay online. If you are requesting a scholarship and/or you'd prefer to pay by personal/company check, please download
this form, attach payment and mail/drop it to:
LifeWays Mental Health First Aid, 1200 N. West Ave., Jackson, MI 49202.
Please note that if you register offline, you are
not guaranteed
a seat or a scholarship until you receive confirmation of your registration.
I heard this training is interactive. What should I wear?
We try
our very best to make this course as interactive as possible, so we
encourage you to dress casually. It's also a good idea to dress in
layers, as Michigan weather can often lead to unpredictable heating and
cooling.
Can we schedule a course on-site at my place of business, just for our staff?Absolutely. LifeWays has provided on-site courses in Mental Health First Aid at Jackson Community College and the Jackson County Medical Care Facility. If you're interested in bringing Mental Health First Aid to your workplace, please
email us for quotes and availability.
Have consumers of mental health services contributed to the Mental Health First Aid USA course content?Yes. In fact, one of the original founders of the program in Australia
is a consumer. Here in the United States, the National Council
continually consults with mental health consumers to ensure the program
content accurately reflects consumer experiences and perspectives.
Consumers have maintained an active voice in focus groups, aided
development of the training manual, and offered invaluable feedback on
the program content itself. Additionally, a number of our certified
instructors are mental health consumers themselves.
Is there research to support the effectiveness of this program?Yes, in fact, the strong evidence base is the very reason the
National Council selected this particular program. Five published
studies in Australia show that the program saves lives, improves the
mental health of the individual administering care
and the one
receiving it, expands knowledge of mental illnesses and their
treatments, increases the services provided and reduces overall stigma
by improving mental health literacy. One trial of 301 randomized
participants found that those who trained in Mental Health First Aid
have greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood
of advising people to seek professional help, improved concordance with
health professionals about treatments, and decreased stigmatizing
attitudes. Unexpectedly, the study also found that Mental Health First
Aid improved the mental health of the participants themselves.
For further evidence supporting the implementation of Mental Health
First Aid, please see the Evaluation section of the Australian Mental
Health First Aid website.
Who are the instructors?
All Mental Health First Aid instructors obtain certification to conduct the 12-hour program
by completing a five-day instructor certification programs
available throughout the year by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. Instructors
must meet general criteria around knowledge of mental health/addictions
and posses the ability to communicate and transfer knowledge
effectively.
LifeWays' Mental Health First Aid instructors have been certified and actively instructing since July 2009.
Are there CEUs approved for this course?
Yes! Mental
Health First Aid is approved for 12 General Recertification Credit Hours by the
Society of Human Resource Management's HR Certification Institute. These hours
relate to the Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in
Human Resources (SPHR) and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)
certifications.
In addition, we are seeking CEUs through the following bodies (NOT yet approved):
-- Michigan Social Worker Continuing Education Collaborative
-- Library of Michigan, Michigan Dept. of Education (Library- and State Board-CEUs)
-- Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals
