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Mental Health First Aid Canada
NameDate
Mental Health First Aid Canada
What is MHFA?
• The help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
• First aid is given until treatment is received or crisis is resolved
• Based on the model of medical first aid
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Medical First Aid
• First Aid is the help given to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained. The aims of any first aid are to:– Preserve life– Prevent deterioration of injury or illness– Promote healing– Provide comfort to the ill or injured
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
• The aims of MHFA are to:– Preserve life where a person may be a
danger to self or others– Provide help to prevent a mental health
problem from becoming more serious– Promote recovery of good mental health– Provide comfort to a person experiencing a
mental health problem
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Why Mental Health First Aid
• Mental Health problems are common• There is stigma/discrimination
associated with mental health problems• Many people are not well informed
about mental health problems• Professional help is not always on hand• People often do not know how to
respond
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Origins of MHFA
• Developed in Australia at Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University
• Has spread to Scotland, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Finland and Canada
• Part of national mental health strategies in Australia and Scotland
Mental Health First Aid Canada
About MHFA Canada
• 12-hour course
• Flexible delivery format
• Interactive
• Practical
• For anyone – general public, teachers, health service providers, emergency workers, employers, etc.
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Topics
• What is meant by mental health and mental illness
• Signs and symptoms of common mental health problems and crisis situations
• Basic 5-step model to provide first aid• Info about interventions and treatments• How to guide someone toward
professional help
Mental Health First Aid Canada
The Five Basic Steps
• Assess risk of suicide or harm
• Listen non-judgmentally
• Give reassurance and information
• Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help
• Encourage self-help strategies
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Mental Health Problems
• Mood Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders
• Psychosis
• Substance Use Disorders
Mental Health First Aid Canada
Crisis Situations
• Suicidal behaviour
• Panic attacks
• Reactions to traumatic events
• Acute psychosis
• Overdoses
Mental Health First Aid Canada
For each disorder
• Signs and symptoms
• Variations of the disorder
• Risk factors
• First aid, including crisis first aid
• Effective treatments
Mental Health First Aid Canada
MHFA Canada Instructors
• Instructors trained over 5 days
• Certified to train the 12-hour course
• Background in mental health
• Teach 3 courses a year to maintain certification
Mental Health First Aid Canada
MHFA Canada Infrastructure
• Master Facilitators
• Canadian course materials
• Evaluation
• Develop new modules/adapt for specific groups – youth, aboriginal, seniors
Mental Health First Aid Canada
MHFA Canada in Schools
• Funding from provincial government to train at least one person in every school
• Materials currently being adapted for youth, plus development of 2 extra modules – eating disorders, self-harm