First Aid works for mental health, too

July 07--One in four adults in the U.S. will experience mental illness in their lifetime. That statistic provides fuel for the mental health first aid movement, which aims to teach people how to recognize the symptoms and connect people to treatment and resources.

"I'm just surprised there's not more coverage of positive things that people can do for mental illness," said Hampton resident Marilyn Barton, a registered nurse who became an instructor for Mental Health First Aid U.S.A. last year.

She conducts eight-hour certification workshops throughout the area by request. Those taking the class include health-care personnel and lay people. Barton likens it to learning CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes that she has taught for 25 years.

"They're very practical. They teach you how to assess a situation and what to do," she said. "Anyone can take it."

The course trains participants to recognize risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems; it gives information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis and addiction disorders; it provides a directory of resources -- professional, peer and self-help; and it gives a framework for a five-step action plan, ALGEE, to help those with a mental health problem or in crisis.

ALGEE stands for:

--A -- Assess for risk of suicide or self-harm.

--L -- listen nonjudgmentally.

--G -- give reassurance and information.

--E -- encourage appropriate professional help.

--E -- encourage self-help and other support.

"This is so helpful, I'll probably have my teenager go through it," said Cyndi Heaton, a registered nurse from Yorktown. "It teaches listening, respect and how to be nonjudgmental."

It helped refresh her prior training as well as giving her strategies to help friends, and the confidence to act as a stopgap in order to connect people to professional resources, when necessary. "It's a lot of information but you have certain steps to take. It really helped me," said Heaton.

John Gleason, trained in critical incident stress management and an EMS veteran, also found the daylong class helpful. "It alerts people more to recognizing that someone is having a problem," he said. "It teaches them what to do, and more importantly what not to do."

More than two dozen local community services board workers also took the Mental Health First Aid training this spring.

"Mental health still has such a big stigma attached to it. We're trying to get it out in the public," said Marcus King, administrator of staff development and training at the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board. He likened mental health issues to physical illnesses. "Sometimes they just need assistance," he said. "It's like First Aid. It teaches how to respond and get them to the resources they need."

There are multiple different classes geared to different populations. King's interest is in the faith community. There are also classes for young people, veterans, active military and law enforcement.

"It's not designed to be a college course, but to give the public an idea," said King. "We can all benefit."

To find an instructor or class, go to http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs.

Salasky can be reached by phone at 757-247-4784.

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