EAST PROVIDENCE – About one in five adults in the United States experiences mental illness, and less than half of those people seek help, making Lifespan Corp.’s Mental Health First Aid learning program a timely tool.
The MHFA program is designed to teach participants – which may include anyone in the community not formally trained in behavioral health – ways to help people suffering from mental illness. The upcoming course will be geared to legal professionals since the criminal justice system is being challenged with record numbers of people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders, said Elena Falcone-Relvas, senior public relations officer at Bradley Hospital.
MHFA is a tool useful for attorneys, judges, court employees, mediators, paralegals, victim advocates, court-appointed special advocates, legal practice professionals, volunteers, or anyone in the legal community, she said.
The program entails an eight-hour course giving people who do not have specialized expertise in behavioral health the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis, Falcone-Relvas said.
“MHFA is an eight-hour course designed for laypeople to increase their knowledge of mental health issues, reduce stigmatization of those with such issues and encourage skilled and supportive reactions toward individuals experiencing behavioral health crises,” said Margaret Paccione-Dyszlewski, director of clinical innovation at Bradley Hospital. “The course is taught by certified trainers utilizing a manualized curriculum. Individuals who participate in an MHFA course receive information regarding psychiatric symptoms, treatment and ways in which a person in distress can be supportively approached.”
The mental health issues covered include: depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use disorders, psychosis, self-harm and suicide, Paccione-Dyszlewski said.
Participants learn a five-step action plan to be able to support someone with a mental illness or who develops the signs and symptoms of an emotional crisis. The class will also teach common risk factors and warning signs of specific types of illnesses, including anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. As with CPR classes, the MHFA class prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect them with help. It’s important to note that “First Aiders” do not take on the role of professionals – they do not diagnose or provide any counseling or therapy.
Prospective participants may register for the course at Lifespan’s website, or call Kim Lafountain at (401) 606-5759. The course costs $99 to $109 for the regular public. December’s legal-community-oriented course costs $129. Upon completion of the course, participants are certified as Mental Health First Aiders for three years.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
