According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one in five adults in the United States experiences mental illness in a given year. That means it’s more likely you’ll encounter a person experiencing emotional or mental distress than a person having a heart attack. Many of us are trained in CPR – but not as many of us would know what to do when confronted with a person facing a mental health crisis.
Mental Health First Aid training teaches people what steps to take. Endeavor Health began offering this specialized training in 2010 and has since educated more than 10,000 members of the Chicago community. During the eight-hour training, participants learn a five-step strategy for helping someone with a mental health problem or crisis:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Give reassurance and Information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies
Upon completing a Mental Health First Aid course, participants know how to recognize the signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental illness and addictions. They also feel confident about intervening during a mental health crisis and know how to access resources to help these individuals.
Mental Health First Aid isn’t just for health care professionals – anyone interested in learning more about mental illness and addiction is encouraged to attend a training session. It’s especially helpful for professionals who regularly interact with the public – for example, law enforcement officers, teachers, human resource directors and nursing home employees.
Endeavor Health is committed to providing a safe, seamless and personal approach to mental health challenges that face our community members. We encourage everyone to learn more and consider getting trained. Knowing how to respond can make a difference for someone facing a mental health problem or substance use disorder.
To assess your risk for mental health issues, take our free online health assessments. To sign up for a Mental Health First Aid course, visit us online or call (630) 305-5500. Schedule a Mental Health Assessment
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