First aid can be crucial when someone is physically injured, but it can be immensely helpful even for unseen wounds and suffering.
So the National Alliance of Mental Illness South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services have teamed up to present a free Mental Health First Aid training session for those who want to help people struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse.
The eight hour class, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Bremen Township Senior Complex, 15350 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, can accommodate up to 30 adults.
Lisa Gardiola, community outreach and education trainer for Sertoma Star Service, said the training is especially helpful for teachers, first responders, hospital staff and police officers, but it’s suited for all caring individuals.
“We get a good cross-section of participants,” Guardiola said. “We have had participants as young as 18 through 80-plus years old, and of all demographics. MHFA really lends itself for anyone to gain basic knowledge and signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge and then gives them tools to be able to assist someone to get the help that they need by referring them to the correct professional help.”
The goal of the training is twofold: “to bring about mental health literacy and break the stigma that is associated with mental illness,” she said. “This eight hour course teaches participants how to identify signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, substance use and psychosis disorders and then give the five-step ALGEE plan to assist someone experiencing a mental health challenge or in crisis and get them to appropriate professional help.”
The five-step program is as follows, Guardiola said:
Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
Listen nonjudgmentally.
Give reassurance and information.
Encourage appropriate professional help.
Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
It’s important to recognize someone experiencing mental health issues or substance use issues because quick intervention can sometimes avert a crisis, she said. “Early intervention is key to better mental health and substance use recovery. We want to act early so as to prevent crises and hospitalization.”
Guardiola said a mental health condition or substance use disorder can arise “when there is a disruption in the person’s ability to function. Is what they are experiencing affecting their ability to function at work or at school, take care of their daily activity and hygiene, manage their thinking and behavior, or have a satisfying relationship?”
Attendees will find an interactive training session combined with practice in the concepts presented. They’ll also get a free lunch.
“We like to facilitate our MHFA training courses as a dialogue between the facilitators and the participants. We don’t want to have the participants feel like they are just being lectured for eight hours,” Guardiola said. “This is an interactive training course with a PowerPoint and videos where we not only discuss the different disorders but take time to have the participants practice what they have learned with group scenario discussions as well.”
She emphasized that what is shared during training is kept private. “Confidentiality is key because many of our past participants have shared their own personal experience or the experience of a loved one with a mental health condition. We strive to create a safe space for them to feel heard and validated and to not be afraid to ask questions.”
Anyone in the area can attend the training, but the grant-funded program travels all over the state to lead free MHFA training sessions, including multiple times in the community.
“We also provide training to schools, colleges/universities, churches, police departments, fire departments, nursing homes, and private or non-for-profit organizations,” Guardiola said. “We can offer the training on site to any organization throughout the state of Illinois. We also have the ability to provide MHFA virtually.“
She said the training was created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and more than 3 million people in the United States have been trained by thousands of certified instructors “to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.”
According to peer-reviewed studies, people trained in Mental Health First Aid are “more knowledgeable and confident when it comes to identifying and helping an individual in distress,” Guardiola said, as well as other benefits. They “expand their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental health and substance use challenges”and “can identify appropriate types of professionals and self-help resources for individuals with a mental health or substance use challenge.” They also “show increased mental well-being themselves.”
NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago, which is based in Olympia Fields, has often partnered with Sertoma Star Services. “We have cosponsored many of these training sessions with NMI SSC in the past and are excited to be doing so again,” Guardiola said.
Information and registration for the program are with Gardiola at 708-1951, Ext. 405 or via email at lguardiola@seratomastar.org.
Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
