EVERYONE is
familiar with first-aid and it ' s a mandatory requirement in most workplaces, institutions and everyday organisations. Someone is always on hand to stem the flow in a potential crisis – should the need arise. The majority of us are not walking about secretly masking as Doctors and waiting to pop-out and diagnose everyone by an article we ' ve read on Wikipedia.
In a true crisis, we are taught mouth-to-mouth, CPR and not to move somebody who has taken a fall. Mostly, it ' s common sense but life saving initiatives are drummed into us all. But where does that leave someone in a mental health crisis?
SIGNPOSTING FOR HELP
In reality, there isn ' t much different to the person involved. Perception in society is that there isn ' t the same sense of urgency and attitudes towards mental health in general are still behind the times. A simple 12 hour course developed originally from Australia is a fresh approach to tackling these attitudes and supporting people in the midst of crisis too.
Scotland’ s Mental health first aid( SMHFA) is not designed to make anyone overnight professionals, just like being trained as a firstaider doesn ' t make you a Doctor. It ' s about managing immediate risks and signposting an individual to the right help and understanding their point of view. Although the NHS does roll out training in Scotland it is primarily focussed at those working in the voluntary sector and within the NHS.
In times of crisis, an individual decision could shape a life but for one SMHFA trainer, her life has been changed by a decision to drop the security of a fulltime wage and take the risk of building up a business with the aim of passing this message on to as many people as possible across the whole of Scotland.
COURAGE
Amanda O ' Connell made that brave decision and is now working independently as an instructor all across the country. Courses have been set up from Aberdeen to Glasgow, with individuals and businesses the main targets for a reasonable fee. Amanda explains to me why she made this radical career change.
She said:“ I realised that there were very few courses out there at evening or weekends.“ If someone wanted to do this course, but wasn ' t part of their job then most courses were at a time unavailable to them.“ My motivations for setting up a business running this course around Scotland were mainly to make the general public more aware of the course, and also make it as accessible as I could for them, particularly at days, times and locations where there were not courses already being offered.”
Talking about mental health every-day can ' t be easy but Amanda reveals her motivations behind the project. She continues:“ What I loved most that I wasn ' t sitting learning about the theory behind mental health conditions.“ I was learning the practical skills about how best to help people – and it was these skills that I needed in order to make a difference to people, not theory.“ It was an interactive course – activities, discussions, case studies and film clips.
“ I thought the course would be very heavy in content, but the fact it was so activity based made it enjoyable and I learned so much from it.”
EMPLOYERS
Talking to employers about your own mental health isn ' t an easy subject to broach but the openness Amanda shared with her previous employer encouraged this path. Her ex-boss identified that if they had perhaps done the training than it would have made things easier, when Amanda or any other colleague took ill due to their mental health.
Amanda explains:“ I could see that it is not just those who work in the care sector who need mental health first aid skills – it is EVERYONE as we all have times where we are helping someone with a mental health problem.“ I felt that offering this training would be something I would be good at and I really wanted to make a difference.”
The more we talk about mental health amongst society the more we can approach the subjects delicately in the future. The government has implemented a mental health strategy although Amanda, like many others, believe that SMHFA should be made compulsory to employers- like standard firstaid care is.
She continues:“ I believe that for every employer it is mandatory to have trained general first-aiders, it should also be mandatory to have trained mental health first-aiders.
NEED TO DO MORE
“ But it ' s not just the government that should be doing more here – it ' s people from all walks of life.“ I feel at a disadvantage here as I am wary of campaigning for something people will think I am just out to make money from.
“ But we need more mental health first-aiders. Everywhere. Throughout all walks of life.”
Details of all courses in Scotland can be found at www. smhfa. com and for a full list of course by Amanda then head to
www. amandamhscot. com
TESTIMONIAL FROM AN�ACTIVE�POLICE OFFICER
“ I recently had to
visit a male who had attempted suicide.
I felt that after taking your course I was able to unerstand this male much more and be able to speak with him with much more empathy.
Although my uniform hindered progress which really is not a surprise.”
Follow Amanda on Twitter:
@ amandamhscot