Improve your mental health first aid skills

A SERIES of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training sessions will be held in Jan Juc from later this month.

MHFA will teach you practical skills to support someone who is feeling suicidal.

The sessions, to be facilitated by City of Greater Geelong youth co-ordinator Blake Edwards, have a variety of benefits for participants, including improving knowledge of mental illnesses, treatments and first aid actions; increasing confidence in providing first aid; decreasing stigmatising attitudes; and increases the support provided to others.

“This is a really great course that has given me confidence and practical strategies to support a person with mental health challenges,” participant George said. “I have already recommended this course to pretty much everyone I know.”

The practical first aid skills taught in MHFA will allow people to:

• Recognise the signs that someone may be suicidal
• Help the person stay safe
• Connect people to professional and other supports, and
• Respond in a crisis situation.

This is a four-hour educational course, not a therapy or support group.

The sessions will be held on July 18 and July 25 at the pavilion at Bob Pettit Reserve, Jan Juc from 10am-2pm. Cost is $35.

Register and pay via Eventbrite by heading to lizpattisonsurfcoastmentalhealthfirstaid.eventbrite.com.au or email [email protected] for details.