Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches participants how to assist people who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or are in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves. The concept was developed by Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm in Australia and spread over 27 countries with more than 3 million people being trained. Basically, the concept of first aid by the public for physical health crises, which is familiar in many countries, was extended to mental health issues. Through MHFA training, the whole of a community can assist formal mental health services in early intervention for mental disorders. Standard MHFA courses are 12-hour courses for adults assisting other adults and there are specialized programs for youth, the elderly and specific crisis or situations. Courses are delivered by accredited Mental Health First Aid Instructors, which in Germany are mainly trained MDs, psychotherapists and specialized nurses. MHFA courses are based on evidence of what is best practice mental health first aid to support someone who has a mental health problem or is experiencing a mental health crisis. This evidence has been developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne, through developing guidelines that cover a number of mental health problems, crises and in different contexts. Once developed, courses are evaluated to assess the outcomes. The presentations will give information on 1. the development of the program, 2. the current state of roll-out in Germany and 3. the scientific evidence of MHFA.
10:00 Uhr
Mental Health First Aid – an overview of the program
Betty Kitchener, Burwood, Victoria (Australia)
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Betty Kitchener, Burwood, Victoria (Australia)
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program conducts courses which teach members of the public how to provide mental health first aid, which has been defined as ‘the help offered to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis; the first aid is given until appropriate professional help is received or until the crisis resolves. Participants are trained to use an Action Plan: Approach, assess and assist with any crisis; Listen and communicate non-judgmentally; Give support and information; Encourage appropriate professional help; Encourage other supports. A variety of MHFA courses teach how to help young people, adults and elderly people.
MHFA training began in Australia in 2000 as a collaboration between one volunteer with lived experience of mental illness and a researcher. From this small beginning, it spread rapidly in Australia and to other countries. By mid 2020, over 900,000 Australians had been trained and the program had spread to 25 other countries, including Germany with over 4 million people trained globally.
10:30 Uhr
Mental Health First Aid – scientific evidence on the program
Anthony Jorm, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
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Autor:in:
Anthony Jorm, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
Extensive research underpins the Mental Health First Aid training program. To inform the content of the program, a series of Delphi expert consensus studies has been carried out to develop guidelines on how a first aider should assist someone developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. These Delphi studies have used both professionals and people with personal experience of mental health problems as experts. To evaluate the effects of the training, uncontrolled trials, randomized controlled trials and qualitative studies have been carried out in many countries. The most rigorous evidence comes from 18 randomized controlled trials. A meta-analysis of these trials found that Mental Health First Aid training improves trainees’ knowledge of mental health problems, their confidence and intentions to help, and the amount of help they give, and it reduces stigmatizing attitudes. The remaining challenge is to research the impact of first aid actions on the mental health of the recipients.