Mental Health First Aid provides valuable tools

Can you recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health illnesses? Would you know how to respond if someone you knew was struggling with a mental health issue?

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis.

In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations and where to turn for help. The course is grounded in the recovery and resiliency model – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.

Hope is critical to overcoming mental health or addiction-related illnesses. Will you be the one to give it? Conversations about mental health don’t have to be awkward. Offer support confidently with Mental Health First Aid.

Through this course, participants will learn how to help other adults, understand common mental health challenges and contexts, review safe action planning steps and cover topics like anxiety, depression, suicidality, substance abuse and trauma.

Mental Health First Aid is open to any adult who is interested to learn. No prior training or specific education is needed, and all experiences are welcome. Frequent attendees have included concerned family members and friends, faith-based leaders, farmers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, school personnel and veterinary providers. Mental Health First Aid can offer continuing education hours for certain professionals.

The cost is $20 and includes training, lunch and a participant workbook.

Visit https://extension.purdue.edu/mhfa for more information on registration, locations, dates and times which may work for you.

If you have questions about this program or would like to schedule a training with your organization, contact Abbi Sampson at 653-8411 or sampsona@purdue.edu, or visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs.

While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming events:

Sept. 10 – Women Walk Putnam County, 9 a.m., Robe-Ann Park

Sept. 16 – Extension board meeting, 7 p.m., Extension Office

Sept. 17 – Women Walk Putnam County, 9 a.m., DePauw Nature Park

Sept. 18 – SWCD locally-led meeting, 6 p.m., SWCD Office

Sept. 19 – “Your Key to International Agriculture” webinar, 12 p.m., register at https://tinyurl.com/y83ma4k4

Sept. 25 – ServSafe, 9 a.m., Putnam County Hospital

Sept. 28 – Fall forestry workshop, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., $5, Dogwood Springs, registration required

Sept. 30 – Explore the World of Gardening!, 6 p.m., $15, Clay County Fairgrounds, registration required