SDSU Extension will host a Mental Health First Aid training course on Thursday, June 15, 2023 over Zoom, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CDT.
Develop the skills needed to provide Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to South Dakotans experiencing stress and other emotional issues. MHFA training is an evidence-based public education and prevention tool to improve the public’s knowledge of mental health and substance problems and connect people with care for their mental health or substance use problems.
The primary audience for this workshop includes adults who work with or support adult family members, clients, and/or co-workers.
One in five Americans has a mental illness, but many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can be difficult to detect. For friends and family members, it can be hard to know when and how to step in. As a result, those in need of mental health services often do not get them until it is too late.
Just as CPR helps even those without clinical training assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support.
Objectives:
- To introduce Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and the role of a Mental Health First Aider.
- To give an overview of the prevalence and impact of mental health problems in the United States.
- To introduce the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan and how it fits within the array of interventions available to address mental health problems.
- To give an overview of the signs, symptoms, and possible risk factors, and warning signs of mental health problems.
- To demonstrate the Mental Health First Aid Plan for someone who is experiencing a crisis.
Registration
Please register using the form below by June 6. The training requires the completion of 2 hours of self-paced online course preparation and 6 hours of virtual training lead by two certified MHFA instructors. Once registration is complete, you will receive an email from MHFAinfo@thenationalcouncil.org with instructions on how to complete the pre-work. The 2-hour online pre-work needs to be completed before the virtual training. Spots are limited, so be sure to register early. If a minimum number of participants are not registered, the course will be canceled. Those who have completed the pre-work will have an option to attend another course.
The value of this course is $150. We are able to offer the course at no cost because of grant funding for the program. Participants who complete all components of the training (pre-work, course) will receive a hard copy of the MHFA Manual.
For more information please contact Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist, or Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head, SDSU Extension Family Resource Management Field Specialist.
