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(d) SMHFA ( Scotland's Mental Health First Aid) Training
Scotland's Mental Health First Aid training - aimed at anyone who wants to help someone with mental health problems?
Mental Health First Aid is
- the help given to someone experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is obtained.
Mental Health First Aid aims to
- preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others
- provide help to prevent the mental health problem developing into a more serious state
- promote the recovery of good mental health
- provide comfort to a person experiencing a mental health problem.
Scotland's Mental Health First Aid teaches the general public, frontline public services and employees to
- recognise the symptoms of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and psychosis,
- provide initial help
- guide a person towards appropriate professional help
It teaches people to use an action plan to help them in this
ALGEE - Five steps
Assess risk of suicide or self-harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage person to get appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help strategies
- It does not teach people how to be therapists
SMHFA course outline
All SMHFA courses will include the following sessions over a 12-hour period:
Session 1
- Why mental health first aid?
- Scottish mental health policy
- Common mental health problems
- Attitudes and the See Me anti-stigma campaign
- The five steps of mental health first aid
- What is depression?
- Symptoms of depression
- Alcohol, drugs and depression
- Risk factors for depression
Session 2
- Suicide in Scotland
- Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
- Crisis first aid for overdose
- First aid for depression
- Treatment and resources for depression
Session 3
- What are anxiety disorders ( PTSD, GAD, social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, OCD)?
- Symptoms of anxiety disorders
- Alcohol, drugs and anxiety disorders
- Crisis first aid for panic attacks
- Crisis first aid for acute stress reaction
- Treatment and resources for anxiety disorders
Session 4
- What are psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)?
- Symptoms of psychotic disorders
- Risk factors for psychosis
- Crisis first aid for acute psychosis
- Treatment and resources for psychosis
- Scottish mental health legislation
- Other expressions of distress, including self-harm
- Action planning for using SMHFA
Further information on any aspect of SMHFA training can be obtained from:
Judith Robertson
SMHFA Programme Administrator
Health Scotland
Tel: 0131 537 4753
Email: smhfa@health.scot.nhs.uk
Or visit www.smhfa.com
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