American Mission Hospital’s Post

Really interesting article here, thank you to Paul McGregor of Everymind at Work for sharing the article and his thoughts on it. As an MHFAid instructor I sometimes hear people say 'MHFAid doesn't work', when I ask why I am told 'because they aren't qualified.' In a way I partly agree with them, MHFAiders aren't qualified but that was never the role, their role is to spot the signs of poor mental health, listen and signpost to professional support. I am proud of the work I do and highlight having MHFAiders is only the first step, having a clear plan in place is how you can increase your chances of it working. This plan should also be reviewed regularly. There a number of things in this article I want to highlight: 26% of the people in the survey said they were frequently asked to go beyond the signposting role. This is alarming if it is their employer that has asked them this and more awareness of the limitations of the MHFAid role needs to be gained. The MHFAider should be signposting to that professional support, not giving it. I make this very clear in my training and also encourage regular meetings for MHFAiders to discuss issues such as this. Only 29% have been given additional support to help them deal with the challenges of the MHFAid role. I always talk to learners about this, there should be a support system in place for MHFAiders both internally and externally through their EAP's and/or professional support. This can be done well in my experience with some brilliant organisations. 'This has led to a much greater volume of contact with EAPs and, more worryingly, a trend for that demand to include far more serious and emergency cases of mental ill health.' If a MHFAider has signposted somebody to a counsellor through their EAP then I think that is a brilliant result, would that person have reached out to the EAP if they hadn't had that initial conversation or the MHFAider hadn't spotted the signs? I would love to hear your thoughts on this, I could write lots about this but if you want to discuss please let me know and we can arrange a chat. https://lnkd.in/eqpA_rKB

I had a call on Friday afternoon with someone wanting to share with me a moment they have just had with someone they didn't know. It was to say thank you. It wasn't the first time they had drawn on the training - they were an MHFA in a large organisation. It was the first time with a complete stranger. This was someone who attended one of my MHFA programmes back in 2021 and had recently gone through the open Refresher I ran. We speak about having conversations and giving people a non judgemental ear. So often we are quick to judge, to advise, we create stories in our heads and it can be so hard to let those go and focus on facts, what is known and what is here and now. They were in a park walking their dog and saw someone looking distressed on a bench. Rather than walk past, they went over and started a conversation. It transpired this person had been made homeless and was scared about where they would sleep. They had had thoughts of jumping off the bridge into the fast flowing river. They talked. The outcome following that conversation was that the person recognised they needed help and while they sat on the bench a close friend was called. Why did the training made a difference? Because people who attend can see the human in the story. They have enough information to approach if applicable, and to some resources they could signpost (in this case Samaritans was mentioned and they called a friend after realising they really needed some help). No it is emphatically not therapy. No it is not to replace EAP, Occupational Health, Counselling, GP, Psychiatrist. However with several hundred people who have now gone through my programmes over several years, the most consistent comment from the feedback is about having the confidence to have a conversation. If we can come back to human connection, if we can listen to each other, be interested, suspend our judgement and challenge the story we are telling ourselves we can allow someone to feel connected and not disconnected. We don't cover everything about mental health, after all that's a huge topic. What we do cover enhances our understanding, can reduce stigma and discrimination, and allows us time and space to reflect and explore a tricky subject. And we think about caring for ourselves too. We pay attention to the boundaries of approach and to our capacity. If you want to join the programme, send me a DM and I can provide you with the link. I have a programme running in March, 11th, 13th, 18th, and 20th all 9 -1 UK on zoom. £280 plus vat.

Saudi Arabia appears to have a need-based shortage of 10,400 health workers to treat mental disorders. A total of 100 psychiatrists, 5700 nurses, and 4500 psychosocial care providers would be additionally needed (that is, above and beyond current levels) to address the priority mental health conditions. The shortfall is particularly severe for nurses and psychosocial workers who make up 98.9 percent of the shortfall. This shortage is substantial when compared to other high-income countries.

On 29th April 2024, we will be providing a First Aid for Mental Health course, which will provide course participants with a First Aid Awards Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health, recognised at SCQF Level 5. As we all know, mental health is a rising concern, with 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health condition each year, and at least 1 in 6 employees experiencing mental health problems in the workplace. Research has shown that work is the biggest cause of stress, which can stop people from performing at their best. As a result, providing support to people who are experiencing issues with their mental health, and providing them with a means to have a discussion is not only moral but is beneficial for your business too. Mental health conditions are often hidden due to stigma and fear of discrimination and research has shown that a culture of fear and silence around mental health is costly to employers. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance 'First aid needs assessment’ refers to mental health in the workplace. This qualification provides course participants with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, covers how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help. By the end of the course, participants will know how to recognise and manage stress and understand the impact of substance abuse. They will learn about the first aid action plan for mental health, be able to put it in place and know how to implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace. Course participants will not diagnose or treat mental health conditions as this can only be carried out by healthcare professionals, but this course will help them to identify early warning signs in someone, and hopefully help prevent this worsening, through discussion and signposting sources of support and assistance. This course will be delivered online, via Zoom, over a 7-hour period on 29th April 2024. There will be a 20-minute follow-up call after the course to consider learning and thoughts (arranged on 30th April 2024). Participants will receive a course certificate and a manual. There are limited spaces available on this course. If this is something you or any other member of your team are interested in, please get in touch so we can get you booked in. #mentalhealthfirstaid #mentalhealth #smebusiness

2-day Mental Health First Aid in Kondinin in partnership with the wonderful team at Kondinin CRC. 10 people completed the 2-day training with trainer Mark Davies, who is always a popular trainer with the communities (an average of 5 out of 5 for the course and his facilitation). Mark says: "One of my main takeaways was the genuine passion amongst the participants to support their community, colleagues and family members who are struggling with mental health challenges. I also feel that they will have a vital role in overcoming the stigma around mental health in rural communities such as Kondinin." We'd like to thank Kondinin CRC for their partnership. They worked tirelessly to promote the training, arrange logistics, and engage the community. And here is a snapshot of the feedback from attendees: When asked what's the most important thing they learned from this training: • How to apply mental health first aid in different situations and scenarios • How to approach someone in a crisis situation • Re-solidifying my knowledge from personal training and that I do know what I am doing • Understanding And when asked what they'd like to see more of/what is needed in Kondinin: • Our community has very little mental health training or workshops. I would like to change mental health services in Kondinin • Any and all training due to lack of available resources in rural areas • Wellbeing/self-care workshops to support the mental health trainings. A big thank you also to CBH Group. #Kondinin #MentalHealthMatters #RegionalWA #MentalHealthFirstAid #MentalHealthTraining

On 29th April 2024, we will be providing a First Aid for Mental Health course, which will provide course participants with a First Aid Awards Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health, recognised at SCQF Level 5. As we all know, mental health is a rising concern, with 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health condition each year, and at least 1 in 6 employees experiencing mental health problems in the workplace. Research has shown that work is the biggest cause of stress, which can stop people from performing at their best. As a result, providing support to people who are experiencing issues with their mental health, and providing them with a means to have a discussion is not only moral but is beneficial for your business too. Mental health conditions are often hidden due to stigma and fear of discrimination and research has shown that a culture of fear and silence around mental health is costly to employers. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance 'First aid needs assessment’ refers to mental health in the workplace. This qualification provides course participants with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, covers how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help. By the end of the course, participants will know how to recognise and manage stress and understand the impact of substance abuse. They will learn about the first aid action plan for mental health, be able to put it in place and know how to implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace. Course participants will not diagnose or treat mental health conditions as this can only be carried out by healthcare professionals, but this course will help them to identify early warning signs in someone, and hopefully help prevent this worsening, through discussion and signposting sources of support and assistance. This course will be delivered online, via Zoom, over a 7-hour period on 29th April 2024. There will be a 20-minute follow-up call after the course to consider learning and thoughts (arranged on 30th April 2024). Participants will receive a course certificate and a manual. There are limited spaces available on this course. If this is something you or any other member of your team are interested in, please get in touch so we can get you booked in. #mentalhealthfirstaid #mentalhealth #smebusiness

In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week we would like to share an exclusive interview with Charles Watkins, CEO of Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS). MHSS is a member of the OneCare Group, a global entity that strives to improve Seafarers’ Health & Wellbeing through a strong network of specialists, who are committed towards this aspiration. "Working in the mental health domain can be challenging. The most important part of our work is making sure that we (the clinicians) are going into supervision for our cases, keeping to mental hygiene routines, and helping each other to be mentally strong to help others. You never know what clinical cases will be thrown your way. It’s different every day, but that’s why our routines and supervision sessions establish a structure that guide us well. My day may entail scheduling sessions with captains, ratings, office personnel, or managing directors about cases, reports, clinical interviews, recommendations, or simply implementing safety procedures for keeping a seafarer safe from harm. A typical day may include trainings about mental health, mental health check-ins, clinical reporting, discussing more severe cases with telemedical doctors, meeting with one of our 70 psychologists worldwide to discuss case development, and business development meetings. We fly to vessels and spend time with seafarers and remain on board after traumatic events to help stabilize and treat traumatized individuals. What makes it important and unique is our ability to offer clinical psychologists in 51 different languages. Psychology is cultural – it always is. Therefore, we need to understand their reality through the eyes of a psychologist that lives in the same country and speaks the same language. Moreover, we’ve adopted a hospital model, where cases are discussed in rounds of other clinicians and doctors to make sure more experts are consulted at the same time." Stay tuned for a discussion on the importance of sleep for seafarers with Charles Watkins! #COLUMBIAblue #OneCareSolutions #MentalHealthSupportSolutions #HealthandWellbeing #MentalHealthWeek2024 #Interview

Competency-based training and skills assessment seem like a logical approach to learning for so many different healthcare areas, but no one had managed to get it right online for mental health support. This article focuses on an implementation that SystemSeed has been working on for the last few years with the World Health Organisation, George Washington University, and multiple international charity partners. Led by our Head of Product, Elise West, we took the methodology developed by Brandon Kohrt at GWU, and created a tablet-first platform that now works with 794 training programmes in 36 countries for 3,760 trainees, resulting in 10,001 competency assessments. Read the article below to learn more.

On 29th April 2024, we will be providing a First Aid for Mental Health course, which will provide course participants with a First Aid Awards Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health, recognised at SCQF Level 5. As we all know, mental health is a rising concern, with 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health condition each year, and at least 1 in 6 employees experiencing mental health problems in the workplace. Research has shown that work is the biggest cause of stress, which can stop people from performing at their best. As a result, providing support to people who are experiencing issues with their mental health, and providing them with a means to have a discussion is not only moral but is beneficial for your business too. Mental health conditions are often hidden due to stigma and fear of discrimination and research has shown that a culture of fear and silence around mental health is costly to employers. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance 'First aid needs assessment’ refers to mental health in the workplace. This qualification provides course participants with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, covers how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help. By the end of the course, participants will know how to recognise and manage stress and understand the impact of substance abuse. They will learn about the first aid action plan for mental health, be able to put it in place and know how to implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace. Course participants will not diagnose or treat mental health conditions as this can only be carried out by healthcare professionals, but this course will help them to identify early warning signs in someone, and hopefully help prevent this worsening, through discussion and signposting sources of support and assistance. This course will be delivered online, via Zoom, over a 7-hour period on 29th April 2024. There will be a 20-minute follow-up call after the course to consider learning and thoughts (arranged on 30th April 2024). Participants will receive a course certificate and a manual. There are limited spaces available on this course. If this is something you or any other member of your team are interested in, please get in touch so we can get you booked in. #mentalhealthfirstaid #mentalhealth #smebusiness

Mental Health First Aid in the Digital Age   In our connected world, technology can be a friend or a foe to our mental health. Let's explore how Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) can be a guiding light in these digital times.   In this fast-paced digital world, we're bombarded with information. Technology gives us amazing mental health resources, but it also brings stress and tech overload. It's a balancing act.   Social media, our virtual meeting place, is a double-edged sword. It connects us, but it can also make us feel lonely and inadequate. It's vital to acknowledge and manage these impacts on our mental health.   MHFA understands this digital shift. It's not just about in-person courses; we've adapted to online platforms, webinars, and digital resources. It's about being digitally literate, and navigating online spaces responsibly.   Amid the digital noise, consider a "digital detox" — finding balance in your online life. MHFA is here to guide you, fostering healthier digital habits for a more mindful existence.   The rise of cyberbullying and online harassment adds new challenges to mental health. MHFA equips you to recognise signs of distress and teaches you how to support yourself while supporting those in need.   To make a real impact, consider joining our immersive 2-day Mental Health First Aid training this coming March 22 and 28, 2024. It's not just about awareness; it's about gaining practical skills to be there for those in your life. Let's join forces in shaping a world where everyone has the tools to champion mental well-being, both online and offline. Secure your spot by registering here! 🌟   https://lnkd.in/ebTGZVdX #MentalHealth #DigitalWellbeing #MHFA #OnlineSupport #DigitalDetox #CyberbullyingAwareness #MentalHealthFirstAid