Report on Mental Health Caring Project : Mental Health Ambassador Training Programme 0910

1. Report on Mental Health Caring Project : Mental Health Ambassador Training Programme 0910

2. Objectives enhance student’s psychological wellness promote the general awareness of mental health within the campus by conducting Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Course equip students with the basic knowledge of mental health and mental illnesses; appropriate skills and attitude in helping others who face with mental and emotional problems conduct Mental Health Caring Activities by the participants after the training programmes.

3. Training Content A four-tier design of the Project as follows:

4. Learning Outcome Student Profile

5. Participants were asked to rate themselves on knowledge, skills and attitude changes before and after the training. Results from the pre – and post – programme assessment indicate that participants agreed the Mental Health First Aid Training has impacts on the change of their knowledge, skills and appropriate attitude in helping others especially on knowledge areas. Pre/post test on knowledge, skills and attitude on Mental Health

6. ProgrammeEvaluation All the participants strongly agreed/ agreed that they learnt different types of mental illness, symptoms and treatment, equipped them with the appropriate attitude towards those with mental problems (100%) and were learnt to apply mental health first aid skills on new situations (96%). The training would arouse their interests of mental health (94%). All the participants strongly agreed/ agreed that the content of the training was useful and satisfied with the training (98%).

7. Evaluation on Peer Supporting Group Caring Activities in hall

8. Reflective journal/feedback from the participants • I have learnt how to show sufficient support, appreciation and understanding for my teammates in the difficult time. I enjoy working with my teammates in a harmonious environment. It is marvelous that everyone can contribute their talents to achieve the activities with commitment and passion. (Wu Chun Ling) Teamwork EQ & Psychological Wellness My personal EQ and psychological wellness had been greatly enhanced through the activities. I learnt how to deal with my own anxieties, and keep an optimistic heart towards failure. In the activities, I have enhanced my communication skills and always keep a positive attitude towards life. (Li Lianqing)

9. This programme offered me a great opportunity to learn how to solve problems. I learned that solving problem was never a format or something that was so simple. When we really meet a problem, we need more thinking and calming. Nervousness shows any use and what we should do is to calm down and tried to come up with as many ideas as possible. (Yang Danling) Problem Solving This programme gave me a very important lesson in my life, that is learning professional skills are important. But the most important is that using these skills to help others. By helping others, we can understand more about the value of life. Lifelong learning not only provides the opportunity to enrich ourselves, but also gives us more knowledge on understanding others and society, thus we can donates more to our society and help other people. (Yang Danling) Lifelong Learning

10. Overall Comments I think this program is really informative and at the same time very practical. Role-plays were useful because teachers’ comments were really helpful. (Chu Ka Kei) • Overall, the programme has changed me a lot and equipped me with various skills. Through the programme, it has changed my mind to many things and turned me to be an enthusiastic and optimistic person, keeping smile everyday. I have successfully helped the students and friends around us. The most important achievement was having get to know and make friends with other ambassadors and hallmates through the programme. Besides, I am happy to be a responsible and reliable team member to all the mental health ambassadors. I have appreciated the programme very much. (Li Lianqing)

11. To conclude, the course materials are useful to equip me with essential knowledge about mental illness, so that I can apply this information to my professional. There are also many opportunities given to us to practice the ALGEE skills in order to preserve life where a person may be a danger to himself/herself or others. (Wu Chun Ling) At the very end, I want to express my thanks to this programme. It makes me more considerate and improve a lot in other aspects, such as teamwork, leadership and creativity. Besides, I learned more knowledges on mental health which will always benefit all along my life. I love this programme also because I had some great friendship with other ambassadors, which is invaluable all through my university life. Overall speaking, taking part in such a programme is unforgettable. (Yang Danling) I have lots of valuable experiences on this mental health project. I have met lots of new friends and have deep knowledge about mental health. If I have chance, I will suggest this programme to my friend. (Chan Wai Kit)

12. Conclusion The overall evaluation on the mental health caring project has been very positive and encouraging. Positive learning outcomes were found in participants’ skills, attitude and knowledge and enhanced their problem solving skills in helping others. Participants shared improvement in teamwork , communication, self-understanding and interpersonal skills. They have a greater sense in helping those who have emotional and mental problems, their sense of social responsibilities were observed especially in carrying out mental health education activities. Therefore, it is worth to conduct the training again so that more students can be benefited.