Mental health first aid course offered Nov. 4 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church
Chances are you know a loved one, a friend or maybe a youth who is struggling with an emotional or mental health issue. Or you may realize that someone is facing such a challenge. Chances also are you would like to help them but you may not know how.
What you need is a brief course in learning how to recognize and handle such situations. And just such a training session, "Mental Health First Aid Training, Blended" will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville.
Training will include a two-part program that begins with an independent two-hour, self-paced online course. This will be followed by a six-hour, in-person, instructor-led class that will include breaks. Instructors include Diane McQueen and Robert Skrocki.
During training, First Aiders will receive instruction in common signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorders, how to interact with a person in crisis, and how to connect that person with help.
The course is being sponsored by the Linden Oaks Hospital Mental Health First Aid Consortium, a partner of Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare.
Registration: Registration as soon as possible is encouraged. Detailed information about the program and registration are available at 110423bmhfa.eventbrite.com. Deadline is Oct. 28.
Cost of the program: From $23.95 for materials.
In addition, 7.5 continuing education units are available for LCPC/LPC, LCSW/LSW, LMFT, RN and psychologists.
St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God's unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,000 households and over 9,000 registered members. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, call (630) 355-8980.