An Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Health First Aid Canada

1. An Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Health First Aid Canada Mental Health Commission of Canada Presented by: Shawna Lee

2. Learning Objectives • Consider the disabling nature of many mental illnesses • Increase mental health literacy • Discover how Mental Health First Aid completes your first aid training

3. Overview of Presentation • What is MHFA? • Origin of MHFA & International growth • MHFA & the Mental Health Commission of Canada • Evidence-Based • Course Content: Basic MHFA

4. What is Mental Health First Aid? • Help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.

5. Supports the Mental Health Strategy for Canada “People need knowledge and skills which help them to recognize mental health problems and illnesses, in themselves or others, so that everyone can obtain the support that they need as early as possible... Ideally, acquiring this kind of knowledge of mental health and mental illness will become as widespread as training in first aid for physical injuries and illnesses.” Supports the Action Guide for Employers “The enhancement of knowledge about psychological health to facilitate recognition, identification, and management of psychological problems.” Will support the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

6. MHFA does not train people to become counselors or therapists.

7. What is Mental Health First Aid? Three primary objectives and outcomes: Increase recognition of signs and symptoms (specific component) Increase helping behaviour (specific component) Decrease stigma (woven throughout the course) The ability to start conversations, provide encouragement, and steer toward appropriate resources are included.

8. Aims of Mental Health First Aid • Preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others. • Provide help to prevent the mental health problem from developing into a more serious state. • Promote the recovery of good mental health. • Provide comfort to a person experiencing a mental health problem.

9. Rationale • 1 in 3 people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime • Members of the general public often do not know how to respond and are not well informed about Mental Health problems • Not everyone with a Mental Health problem seeks help • There is STIGMA associated with Mental Health problems • Early intervention can ease suffering and prevent complications • Mental Illnesses are among the most disabling

10. “Disability” Arrange the slips from least to most disabling.(Some conditions may be equally disabling) • Refers to the amount of disruption that a health problem causes to a person’s ability to work, look after themselves and carry on their relationships with family and friends.

11. How Disabling is Mental Illness? • Gingivitis • Mild asthma • Low back pain, uncomplicated diabetes • Mild depression, epilepsy • Mild/moderate panic disorder • Anorexia, mild/moderate OCD, non-invasive breast cancer • Moderate depression, severe asthma, complete hearing loss, chronic hepatitis B infection • Severe vision loss, operable small cell lung cancer • Severe post-traumatic stress disorder, paraplegia • Severe depression, brain injury with permanent impairments • Severe schizophrenia, quadriplegia, end-stage Parkinson’s, severe dementia

12. Disabling Nature of Mental Illnesses • Mental illness can be a major cause of long-term disability • Of the 10 leading causes of disability world-wide, five are mental illnesses

13. MHFA’s Origin and International Growth • Developed, Australia 2001 • Orygen Research, University of Melbourne • Dr. Anthony Jorm, Researcher Betty Kitchener MHFA in 23 countries

14. The Course • Basic Adult: 12 hours / 2 days / 4 sessions • Adults who work with Youth: 14 hours / 2 days / 4 sessions • MHFA Northern People: 21 hours/3 days • Instructor Training: 5 days – basic & youth/ 6 days- NP • Upcoming Adaptations for: • First Nations • Inuit • SeniorsVeterans

15. AboutMHFAandMHCC • MHFA Canada is a program of The Mental Health Commission of Canada [MHCC] • MHCC: -Mission: promote mental health in Canada, and work with stakeholders to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems, and to improve services and support. -Vision: a society that values and promotes mental health and helps people who live with mental health problems and mental illness lead meaningful and productive lives.

16. Evidence-Based • Over 16 Published Evaluations International research has shown that this evidence-based course offers significant positive impacts for participants and their workplaces, communities, and families, namely: • Significantly greater recognition of the most common mental health problems • Decreased social distance from people with mental health problems • Increased confidence in providing help to others • Improved mental health of the MHFA participant her/himself

17. MHFA Course Content • Explanations of mental health, mental illness and mental health problems • Signs and symptoms of common mental health problems and crisis situations • Information about effective interventions and treatments • Ways to access professional help

18. Basic MHFA Course Content • Mental Health & Mental Health Problems • Substance-Related Disorders • Mood Disorders • Anxiety Disorders • Psychotic Disorders • Understanding signs & symptoms • How to Help (MHFA)

19. Crisis First Aid Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis: • Suicidal behaviour • Overdoses • Panic Attacks • Reactions to traumatic events • Psychotic episodes Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is provided until appropriate support is found or until the crisis is resolved.

20. Participant Course Delivery • MHFA Course Delivery Options: 2 consecutive days or spaced 4 three-hour modules over time All participants receive the Mental Health First Aid Canada certificate contingent on attending the full 2-days Variety of learning tools: • Lecture • Case Studies • Role Play • Videos

21. Why MHFA for professors? • 50% of all mental illnesses begin by age 14 • 75% of all mental illnesses begin by age 24 • Changes in attendance and assignments may be signs of a developing mental health problems • Youth may be reluctant to speak with their parents, and look to another trusted adult to speak with about changes in mental health

22. Participant Feedback • “The course was great! Informative and interesting.” “I really enjoyed this course.” “The content really met my needs.” “Valuable for all professionals working with youth.” “Each topic is covered with the right amount of depth and info” “I will use the info in my personal and professional life.” “Extremely helpful because it gave actual and realistic strategies.”

23. Thank you! Check out the PD Calendar for MHFA training ongoing! Shawna.lee@senecacollege.ca X55377 For more information on Mental Health First Aid Visit: www.mentalhealthcommission.ca or www.mentalhealthfirstaid.caFollow us: The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.   Les opinions exprimées aux présentes sont celles de la Commission de la santé mentale du Canada. La production de ce document a été rendue possible grâce à la contribution financière de Santé Canada.