Mental health problems are common. Unfortunately, some stigmas attached to mental health make it so that people are afraid to talk about the challenges and don’t seek the appropriate care. In the same way that people may need first aid for a physical emergency, mental health first aid is also important. That is why mental health first aid courses are a great resource that people should turn to if they have the desire to help others.
Some topics discussed in a mental health first aid course include mood disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use disorders, suicidal thoughts, and more. It is good to remember that mental health concerns affect everybody in one way or another. In the same way that a person never knows when they will use their CPR training, you never know when the training received from a mental health first aid course will be an essential part of helping someone else get through an emergency situation.
More people are battling mental health challenges combined with heart disease, cancer, and lung disease. It is estimated that 20% of adults have some type of mental health challenge. This means that at any given time, you or someone around you could be experiencing mental illness, and it could escalate to a mental health crisis that requires the assistance of a professional. Research shows that people with mental health problems might seek assistance if someone close to them recognizes the symptoms and suggests they get help. With the right training, that someone could be you.
