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First aid for the brain Course provides basic training and removes stigma of mental health issues
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 27, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A course created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada is training health care professionals in Yellowknife and across the NWT how to assist people with mental health issues.
Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority (YHSSA) held a two-day mental health first aid course for 20 people on Sept. 11 and 12.
Similar to traditional first aid procedures, mental health first aid teaches participants to recognize some of the common symptoms associated with mental health and addiction issues, while also teaching them to provide basic support to affected individuals.
"There are two outcomes of mental health first aid. One is to remove the stigma around mental health issues and another is so that more help
is actually offered," said Barbara Lacey, manager of Community Mental Health and Addictions, with YHSSA.
Lacey said one-third of Canadians suffers from some form of mental illness, with anxiety and depression being the two most common illnesses. She said the course first started being offered in Canada in 2011 and in the NWT in 2012. According to Lacey, nearly 40,000 people have received the mental health first aid training across Canada since 2011.
"We're using the program to roll out the education to as many people as we can," she said.
Course instructor Melissa Chung said it offers a basic overview of mental health problems including "substance induced disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders."
"We talked about the signs and symptoms (of those disorders) so that we can all have a better understanding of what they look like, as well as looking at effective treatments," said Chung, who is also a co-ordinator of family planning at YHSSA.
She said half of the battle is getting people to be aware of the different types of disorders.
"There is a lot of fear in the unknown," she said.
The central tenet of the course is based on the acronym ALGEE, which stands for: "Assess for risk of suicide or harm; Listen non-judgmentally; Give reassurance and information; Encourage appropriate professional help; Encourage self-help and other support strategies"
Although the focus of the program is to train front-line staff in health care and social services professions, it is also open to members of the public at no cost.
Norma Giovanetto, a mother of five teenagers who recently completed the course, said the information helped broaden her understanding of what constitutes a mental health issue.
"I think society, in general, we don't know enough about it. And you get those stereotypical words thrown in that you want to avoid, like crazy or weird, or mental case. When really statistics are showing that mental health problems and challenges are one of the leading causes of non-fatal health issues in Canada and the United states," said Giovanetto. "It's prominent in people's lives."
Giovanetto was motivated to learn mental health first aid because she likes to be involved in the community. She added that having five teenagers was also a factor.
"I've talked with teenagers about suicide," said Giovanetto. "So this will be really helpful to me. I'll be able to apply a lot of this information and I'm more aware of some the services."
Giovanetto said she recommends the course to anyone who is considering taking it.
"All of us can make a huge impact," she said.
Lacey said there are currently 17 people on the waiting list to take the course.
The authority offers a minimum of two courses each year and is currently planning to offer its next course in the new year.
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