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PROBLEM: Tragic shootings, drug abuse and other social ills reflect mental health problems that are falling under the radar.
SOLUTION: Increased awareness, education and practical techniques to help those with mental health difficulties.
STRATEGY: Arm everyone with mental health first aid instruction to assist those in need.
Mental Health First Aid boosted by the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council
Some see arming citizens with guns as a way to deal with social problems brought to attention with the recent mass shootings. The Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council is working to help arm everyone with something quite different: mental health training.
Recently both President Obama and Governor Hickenlooper have urged greater support for behavioral healthcare initiatives. In concert with these directives, the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council and its member organizations are taking steps with an exciting, groundbreaking concept: mental health first aid.
One out of four people in Colorado struggle with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders and other mental health challenges. There is hope in the form of mental health first aid response by trained citizens who can recognize the signs and apply evidence-based actions to connect those in crisis to support systems that can help recovery.
Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The program is managed, operated and disseminated by three national authorities, with local coordination by the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council.
The program has proven to be an effective aid to people needing mental health intervention and assistance. In addition, graduates of the Mental Health First Aid courses have reported that the training they received has been beneficial to their own mental health.
With the help of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, health organizations and government agencies in Colorado are offering an interactive 12-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness 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, and overviews of common treatments.
Those who take the 12-hour course to certify as Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care.
More information about Mental Health First Aid and listings of training classes are available from the Mental Health First Aid Colorado website at mhfaco.org.
The Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council is committed to making an impact on making mental health a manageable priority for effective healthcare for Colorado residents.
