According to statistics, one in every five Americans experience mental illness each year. The signs of someone struggling with mental health are often subtle, leaving conditions undetected, and therefore undiagnosed and untreated. It’s important to not only recognize these signs in ourselves but in our family, friends, and colleagues so that we can provide the support that they need when they need it.
To address the issues of mental health, Wespath is offering live, virtual Mental Health First Aid training sessions on March 10 and 24. The training sessions are free and open to anyone connected with the United Methodist Church, including members of UMC congregations, lay employees of the Church and clergy.
Session 1 – The Basics
Duration: 60 minutes
The first session teaches the foundational concepts of mental health, the ability to identify when you or someone else may have mental health needs that require assistance and the skills to start a conversation and get them the help they need. Session 1 includes topics on:
- Current mental health challenges and statistics
- Influences, stress, vulnerability and self-awareness
- Stigma, discrimination and promoting inclusion
- Identifying and coping with stress; exploring our own ‘stress signatures’
- First Aid for Mental Health: principles to approaching and helping others
Session 2 – A Deeper Dive
Duration: 60 minutes
The second session dives deeper into external influences, stress, vulnerability, and ways in which our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are impacted every day. It provides practical methods for how to manage ourselves and others in crisis. Session 2 topics include:
- Personal resilience and staying well
- Understanding ways in which we can become unwell
- An introduction to depression, substance abuse, anxiety and self-harm—risk factors and First Aid for Mental Health interventions
- Suicide and First Aid for Mental Health for suicidal crisis
- Connecting with others, active listening and understanding common personal barriers to having an effective conversation
Register for the First Aid Training for Mental Health Today!
Questions? Please contact Dina Reid, DSC Pension & Health Benefits Administrator, at dreid@dscumc.org or 480-206-0049.