BRIEF: Our Neighbors: 12 residents become certified mental health first aid instructors

March 09--Twelve Brazos Valley residents have become certified instructors for the Mental Health First Aid team after passing a February training session in Bryan-College Station.

More than 30 people from across the state attended the eight-hour mental health literacy program, which is designed to give members of the public skills to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis. The new instructors will now be able to teach the program to teachers, school administrators, law enforcement officials, nurses and others.

Tracye Sanders, a member of the NAMI Brazos Valley board of directors, said the program was an important step in educating the community about mental health. "Most people know how to recognize and appropriately react to medical emergencies, but there is little knowledge in the general public about what to do in a mental health crisis."

The program is conducted by the National Council for Behavioral Health.

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