MONROE - Journey Mental Health will be offering Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults training from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Green County Justice Center, lower level multi-purpose rooms, across the hall from the Green County University of Wisconsin-Extension office. The cost is $30 per person, which includes a manual, lunch and snacks.
Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common supports. This eight-hour course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect persons to the appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of illnesses such as anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Mental illness and aging often can be a double stigma. Older adults and care partners are less likely to identify a problem as a symptom of a mental health disorder. Furthermore, older adults have high rates of late onset mental health disorders (anxiety/depression) and low rates of identification and treatment. There is negative bi-directional impact between mental disorders and other health conditions. Even "mild" mental illness symptoms can have catastrophic consequences in vulnerable older adults.
Like CPR, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect the person with help. First aid workers do not take on the role of professionals: They do not diagnose or provide any counseling or therapy. Instead, the program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like "What do I do?" and "Where can someone find help?" Certified mental health first aid instructors will provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support. All trainees will receive a program manual with the course material.
Registration and payment are due by Sept. 23 to the Green County UW-Extension Office, 2841 6th St., Monroe. Make checks payable to: GUPPY. For more information, contact Bridget Mouchon-Humphrey, Southwest Wisconsin Behavioral Health Partnership Program director at 608-341-6608.
Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common supports. This eight-hour course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect persons to the appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of illnesses such as anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Mental illness and aging often can be a double stigma. Older adults and care partners are less likely to identify a problem as a symptom of a mental health disorder. Furthermore, older adults have high rates of late onset mental health disorders (anxiety/depression) and low rates of identification and treatment. There is negative bi-directional impact between mental disorders and other health conditions. Even "mild" mental illness symptoms can have catastrophic consequences in vulnerable older adults.
Like CPR, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect the person with help. First aid workers do not take on the role of professionals: They do not diagnose or provide any counseling or therapy. Instead, the program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like "What do I do?" and "Where can someone find help?" Certified mental health first aid instructors will provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support. All trainees will receive a program manual with the course material.
Registration and payment are due by Sept. 23 to the Green County UW-Extension Office, 2841 6th St., Monroe. Make checks payable to: GUPPY. For more information, contact Bridget Mouchon-Humphrey, Southwest Wisconsin Behavioral Health Partnership Program director at 608-341-6608.
