The Mental Health First Aid Training ProgramDefining goals, methods & success together
In response to COVID-19, The National Council For Behavioral Health and Mental Health First Aid USA have created Virtual Mental Health First Aid. This 100% online program ensures that participants can learn Mental Health First Aid without in-person classroom training. Virtual Mental Health First Aid is a 2 hour self-paced and 5.5 hour instructor taught Zoom-based course that focuses on recognizing the patterns of thought, feelings, behaviors and appearance that show there might be a mental health challenge rather than focusing on specific illness. Participants are taught an action plan that they apply to non-crisis and crisis scenarios. Here are the course outlines:
Two Hour Self-Paced Introduction Course Outline (to be completed by student themselves online BEFORE taking the 5.5 hour Zoom based course):
- Overview of Mental Health First Aid
- Mental Health & Mental Disorders
- Role of the Mental Health First Aider and Self-Care
- Common Mental Disorders in the U.S.
- Recognizing Signs and Symptoms
Five and One Half Hour Mental Health First Aid Virtual Skills Application Course Outline (to be completed working with Joe on Zoom in a virtual classroom):
- Welcome To Mental Health First Aid
- Mental Health First Aid Self-Paced Recap
- ALGEE: Mental Health First Aid Action Plan
- Mental Health First Aid For Early Signs and Symptoms
- Mental Health First Aid For Worsening Signs and Symptoms
- Action Plan For Crisis Situations
- Self-Care For the Mental Health First Aider
IMPORTANT- PLEASE READ BEFORE ENROLLING FOR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Participant Acknowledgement
By participating in the Mental Health First Aid Training provided by Attorney Mental Health Education, Inc., you understand and agree that:
- Your instructor is the President of Attorney Mental Health Education, Inc. and is not a mental health professional, medical doctor, counselor, or therapist and cannot provide any medical or psychological advice. Your instructor is certified by Mental Health First Aid USA. Your instructor is not providing any legal advice or any sharing attorney/client privilege as part of your Mental Health First Aid training.
- Mental Health First Aid does not teach you how to formally diagnose, cure, or treat mental illness. Only a licensed professional has the training, experience, and knowledge to provide such services. In any situation you may reasonably determine to be imminently life threatening to any person(s), including yourself, you agree to call 911 for emergency help or call/visit/consult with other appropriate emergency resources including medical or mental health professionals as you deem necessary.
- You are prepared, emotionally and physically, to take Mental Health First Aid training.
- You will keep all appropriate confidences shared and learned during the Mental Health First Aid training.
- You can share personal information on a voluntary basis. If you share, please do not overshare. Identifying details about other people should be kept anonymous unless you have their express permission to discuss a particular situation with our group. Mental Health First Aid is not group therapy or a form of personal counseling in any manner.
- You will review, read, and keep for personal reference your Mental Health First Aid training manual or any other online resources during and after our training whether in person or virtually online.
- You can take a break during training for any reason if you feel uncomfortable or need some time to reflect about the topics covered, including anxiety, depression, substance use, psychosis, and suicide. If you do take an unscheduled break, please let your neighbor, or me, know you are OK or otherwise notify me virtually online.
- You will approach Mental Health First Aid with an open mind and willingness to consider viewpoints that may be different from your own.
- You will do you part to help destigmatize mental illness and to reasonably and responsibly use the Mental Health First Aid material to assist others who may be in need when appropriate.
- The information in the Mental Health First Aid manual, the information in the virtual online training and the overall Mental Health First Aid course is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not intended to establish a standard of care for the provision of emergency mental health services. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider if you have concerns regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read in the Mental Health First Aid manual or learn in the Mental Health First Aid course whether virtually online or in person. The information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, and other material contained in the Mental Health First Aid manual and the Mental Health First Aid course (in person or virtually online) are for the purpose of promoting broad consumer understanding and knowledge on mental health care. None of the procedures provided in the Mental Health First Aid manual (printed or virtually online) or the Mental Health First Aid course (in person or virtually online) represents or warrants that any procedure is safe, appropriate, or effective for you or anyone whom you deem requires assistance of Mental Health First Aid. Reliance on any information appearing in the Mental Health First Aid manual (printed or virtually online) and the Mental Health First Aid course (in person or virtually online) is solely at your own risk. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or for emergency medical help on the nearest phone.
