Are you ready if a mental health crisis strikes your loved one?
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 5, 2016) - The news is rife with stories about heart attack or epileptic seizure victims saved by family members, friends or bystanders who knew CPR or other first-aid techniques. Yet, too much remains unknown about how to react to medical emergencies involving patients with potentially life-threatening behavioral health disorders, such as depression, panic attacks, emotional reactions to trauma and even substance abuse.
During National Mental Health Awareness Month, Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH), in partnership with Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, is offering a first-aid course that will make it easier to identify and address behavioral health or substance abuse crises and teach participants how to provide first aid to someone in a mental health emergency.
The course, Mental Health First Aid®, will be offered in two four-hour sessions - from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 and 18 - at the Northwest Community Hospital campus, 901 W. Kirchoff Road, Arlington Heights. Cost is $40; preregistration is required by calling HealthConnection at (847) 618-4968, or emailing hconnection@nch.org.
The lack of information about how to respond to behavioral health issues among all age groups is troublesome, but remains a particular issue within the aging Baby Boomer population. According to 2012 statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 20 percent of people age 55 or older experience some type of mental health issue, including anxiety, severe cognitive impairment and mood disorders, like depression and bipolar disorder. At least 12 percent of older adults in a community are likely to have a diagnosable mental health disorder; older men have the highest suicide rate of any age group.
"Mental Health First Aid is a logical extension of NCH's strong interest in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of behavioral disorders," says Nadjeh Awadallah, community liaison for behavioral health at NCH and a certified mental health first aid instructor. In fact, NCH recently launched a geropsychiatry program to address emotional and behavioral problems among the elderly.
The course will be led by NCH behavioral health clinicians, who will discuss the risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses. Through role playing and simulations, participants will learn how to react and offer help when someone is having a behavioral health crisis.
Although behavioral health professionals can obtain continuing education credits by taking the course, Mental Health First Aid is much like the more familiar CPR and other first-aid programs because it is designed especially for the general consumer with little or no prior experience.
"People with family members who have behavioral health issues are especially encouraged to take the course so that they are prepared to help their loved ones manage their symptoms," Awadallah says.
Mental Health First Aid is an international program, which originated in Australia. Studies show that those who complete the course have fewer negative perceptions about people with behavioral health issues and more confidence in helping these patients.