Mental Health First Aid Certification
What is it and Why should Businesses Should Care
I am Mental Health First Aid Certified by the National Council on Mental Wellbeing. Let me tell you what it means to be MHFA and why I think EVERY organization needs to have certified Mental Health First Aiders on staff.
What is a Mental First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid was first developed in Australia in the late 1990s by Betty Kitchener, a nurse specializing in health education, and Anthony Jorm, a mental health literacy professor. The first training class was delivered in the year 2000 and soon after the Mental Health First Aid International was formed. Now the program is in 24 countries and has trained over 4 million people world-wide. Mental Health Frist Aiders learn to help someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related in both crisis and non-crisis situations. They identify signs, symptoms, and warning signs in people experiencing at-risk mental health and addiction. MHFA helps builds individual resiliency and assists with recovery to maintain overall health and wellbeing.
What does a Mental Health First Aider do?
A Mental Health First Aider is trained to assist with depression and anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, and substance abuse by applying the National Council on Wellbeing’s
Mental Health First Aid Action Plan called ALGEE
Assess the situation for suicide or harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage appropriate professional health
Encourage self help and other appropriate strategies
Early empathetic intervention and assistance could save someone’s life. However, providing this type of support can also be mentally and physically taxing on the Mental Health First Aider. That is why a Self-Care Plan is customized to each provider so that can quickly and easily access what they need to recharge after interactions and protect their own mental health.
What does a Mental Health First Aider NOT do?
They do NOT provide professional support services nor make diagnosis. They give peer support and refer to clinical professionals for situations they are not qualified to navigate. A good Mental Health First Aider has a list of a variety of resources ready to pass on when someone needs them.
Why Businesses Need Mental Health First Aiders
The impact of the pandemic has been insurmountable on employee’s mental health. Choosing to invest in mental health risk management saves employers money on costs related to healthcare, absenteeism, and turnover. For every $1 invested in evidence-based programs, employers can save $2-$4 on other expenses.
Mental Health First Aiders are on the front lines of mitigating harm to the individual and the company by supporting the connection between mental wellbeing and psychosocial risk factors in the workplace.
Company Roles that should be certified include
The Top Leader of the Company (CEO, Founder, Owner)
Human Resources Teams
People Managers
Health and Safety Directors
Mental Health and Safety Directors
Learning and Development Teams
How to Get Certified
Due to the pandemic there are many sessions offered virtually and will take approximately two days to complete. Certified Instructors lead sessions using a variety of learning tools including group activities, situational analysis, and individual assessments. To find sessions open near you visit here for more information.
Mentally Fit Workplaces Can Help You
Mentally Fit Workplaces a complete Mental Health Risk Management solution that addresses the psychosocial risk factors and employee wellbeing. We can provide your company with their own Mental Health First Aid Consultant, develop the Mental Health and Safety Director role, coordinate Mental Health First Aid Training for all levels of staff. For more information visit our website or email hello@mentallyfitworkplaces.com
