Definition Of Mental Health First Aid

Mental health is important at every stage of life from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Definition of mental health first aid. Definition of mental health first aid. Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person who is developing a mental health problem experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. This guide covers psychological first aid which involves humane supportive and practical help to fellow human beings suffering serious crisis events. Like traditional first aid mental health first aid does not teach people to treat or diagnose mental health or substance use.

It is written for people in a position to help others who have experienced an extremely distressing event. Workplace refers to a place of employment. Mental health first aid is a training program that teaches members of the public how to help a person developing a mental health problem including a substance use problem experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Mental health includes our emotional psychological and social well being.

Psychological first aid is most commonly used immediately after a disaster. Mental health first aid is the help offered to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Helper refers to any employee who provides mental health first aid as defined above. A small part of an affected population will require further mental health support to assist recovery.

But most people recover well on their own or with the support of compassionate and caring disaster workers family and friends. It affects how we think feel and act. Jorm phd mental health first aid s co founder and a fellow in the population mental health group at the university of melbourne s melbourne school of population and global health. The first aid is given until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

This helper does not necessarily have a designated role such as a physical first aid officer has. The helper may be a co worker of the person be the person s manager or in a role less senior to the person. Mental health first aid got its start during a walk with the family dog says psychologist anthony f. Mental health first aid is a national program to teach the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use.

The mental health first aid action plan assess for risk of suicide or harm.