What Does a Mental Health First Aid Course Cover?
Mental Health First Aid Course
Mental Health First Aid is basically the assistance provided to an individual who is suffering from a mental health crisis, mental illness or even just mental health challenge. There are various situations that could call for emergency assistance. And thus this is what it is all about. You give the initial first aid to the individual before the situation gets any more serious or the professional help is acquired. In order to give this kind of aid, there are various resources you can avail of.
One of the most common ways individuals and professionals alike offer mental health first aid courses are through lectures, seminars and support groups. They usually cover the basics of providing initial care and treatment through basic self-care techniques and strategies. There are also topics covered such as the cognitive behavioral therapy, family and relationship support, emotional stability, communication and stress management. Usually, these courses are given by health experts, mental health counselors and by mental health support groups like organizations and churches.
The first lecture in a mental health first aid course usually teaches you how to assess your condition and tell if you really need professional help. It then teaches you how to prepare for professional help and what you should do when you already got in touch with professionals. Some of the topics taught are presenting yourself, creating an action plan, coping with anxiety and talking to a patient’s family. After the lecture, the instructor typically gives you an assessment form where you can honestly write down what you learned. The assessment form also explains things like how long you need to take the class and how many subjects you need to know.
What Does a Mental Health First Aid Course Cover?
Another way to learn about mental health first aid is through discussions. This is often done during open houses, workshops or counseling. It teaches you how to listen effectively to the words that your loved ones, doctors and mental health professionals have to say. It teaches you to be able to explain the situation to them calmly. And it teaches you how to ask questions, how to provide answers and how to help someone in need despite the fact that you might not completely understand what they are telling you.
Lastly, there are courses that focus on treating addictions and mood disorders. These courses teach you how to identify symptoms and how to address each of them in a positive manner. Some of the disorders associated with mental illnesses include bi-polar disorder, eating disorders, gambling and other personality disorders.
When taking up a mental health First Aid and Skills’ course, it will teach you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. It will also teach you how to prepare for and handle emergencies that might occur in the future. In addition, it teaches you how to properly administer medications, how to protect yourself from injury and how to keep safe when dealing with individuals experiencing serious and sometimes fatal physical disorders such as drug overdose and suicide.
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