Youth Mental Health First Aid - CPR For the Mind | Teenage Pressure Cooker
Bainbridge Island ReviewFeb 14, 2018
What would you do if you saw someone choking or having a heart attack? Chances are, you would run to their aid, call 911 and, if trained, attempt CPR.
Now, suppose you saw a friend in emotional distress, having a panic attack or abusing drugs. Don't want to get involved? It's not your business? It's too personal?
That's where Mental Health First Aid comes in, educating our community on how to reach out and help those around us who may be struggling with suicide, mental illness or substance abuse. Call it CPR for the mind.
It's part of a nationwide movement to help people recognize and respond to mental health emergencies.
Mental Health First Aid offers courses geared both for youth and adults. The Youth Mental Health First Aid, which was the program BYS hosted, is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
The campaign's goal is to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and make mental health first aid as common as CPR training. (The
"Why is it that we don't hesitate to help someone who is having a heart attack but don't want to interfere when it's a mental health crisis," said BYS Program Coordinator
BYS Education Specialist
The Mental Health First Aid program teaches a five-step action plan, known by the life-saving acronym, ALGEE. Here are the steps:
A: Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Some warning signs include: threatening to hurt or kill oneself, seeking access to means to hurt or kill oneself, talking or writing about death and feeling hopeless.
L: Listen non-judgmentally
Mental Health First Aid teaches you to use verbal and nonverbal skills such as open body posture, comfortable eye contact and other strategies to take part in appropriate conversation.
G: Give reassurance and information
Mental Health First Aid provides information and resources you can offer to someone to offer emotional support and practical help.
E: Encourage appropriate professional help
Types of professionals include: primary care physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors and certified peer specialists. Types of professional help include: talk therapies, medication and other professional supports.
E: Encourage self-help and other support strategies
People with mental illness can support their own recovery and wellness through: exercise, relaxation, meditation, participating in peer support groups and self-help books.
The Mental Health First Aid course was created in
For more information, contact BYS at info@bainbridgeyouthservices.org or the
healthfirstaid.org/mental-health-re
sources.
Dr. Cezanne Allen is executive director of Bainbridge Youth Services.