Mental health first aid is a mental illness training course that teaches people how to help someone experiencing mental distress. This illness could be the result of a traumatic event, substance abuse, or mental disorder. Mental health first aid can save lives and reduce the risk of suicide by teaching people how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems.
In mental health first aid courses, participants learn how to help someone who is experiencing mental distress. It teaches people skills that they can use at the moment or when mental illness has progressed and a person needs more support. It’s important for everyone – not just mental health professionals – to know these skills because mental illnesses are common, affecting one in five adults at any given time. They may affect anyone regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. People with mental disabilities are also particularly vulnerable since they face additional challenges accessing mental health care.