Mental Health First Aid USA

Rita Limbaugh, Community Education Director of the Mental Health Center, is certified in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and is available to offer MHFA training to groups of 12-24 who desire to gain skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The 12-hour course presents an overview of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in the U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact on individuals, families and communities, and overviews common treatments and resources. Participants learn a 5-Step Action Plan that includes skills, resources, and knowledge needed to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, family, social, and self-help care.

Mental health problems are much more common than most people realize. Surveys suggest that in America today more than one in four adults will experience a mental disorder in any given year. Recovery is possible with early intervention; however, only 41% of those with a mental illness will seek help in any given year, and 50% will delay getting help for an average of 10 years. People delay getting help largely due to stigma associated with mental health problems. MHFA has been proven to improve understanding and to decrease stigma related to mental illness and substance use. The goal is for MHFA training to become as readily recognized in a few years as CPR and First Aid trainings are today.

To learn more about MHFA, contact Rita at 256-705-6379 or click on the Mental Health First Aid website.