Helping in a Crisis: Mental Health First Aid Course

Mental illness can affect anyone. Around one in five adolescents has psychological problems and more than one in four adults show signs of a mental disorder over the course of a year. The latter are now the second most common cause of sick leave and the most common reason for early retirement due to illness.

What a mental health first aider can do

The first aid course for mental health aims to counteract these facts, which can be found in the Bavarian psychiatry report. The mental health first aider should accompany people with mental illnesses and, above all, encourage them to seek professional help at an early stage.

The two-day mental health first aid course starts at 9:30 a.m. in Neuburg an der Donau. The topic is not exactly light fare. The eight participants, sitting around a U-shaped table, look ahead, spellbound. It’s a diverse group of people ranging in age from their late twenties to their early 60s, from volunteer pastors to engineers.

Course content: lectures, films, group work, role plays

It is important to social worker and course leader Iris Raba that the participants get a feel for the different mental illnesses. That’s why the participants first watch films by and about people with depression, psychoses and addictions. After the theory part, it’s all about practicing, exemplified by role-playing in conversation situations.

Why you want to become a mental health first aider

The reasons why someone takes the course vary greatly. Some have people close to them with depression. Others are department heads and have already experienced suicide among their own employees. A few of the participants work as pastors themselves, others are simply interested.

“In my professional context, it has actually been the case more often recently that we have had to deal more and more with young people who were somehow in an exceptional psychological situation,” says 28-year-old course participant Marina. Course participant Oliver says: “Since I have team responsibility and had a stroke of fate in the branch two years ago, I would like to train myself. An employee took her own life. Nobody saw it coming, not even the family and neither did we as a team.” , reports the 40-year-old.

Acute crisis and triggers

In general, experts differentiate between acute crises and long-term “non-crisis situations”. There are many things that can trigger mental illness. The participants become aware of this when they write down physical, social and psychological factors on sheets of paper in small groups.

From separation to “not being happy with your appearance”, the reasons that promote mental illness can be diverse. In addition to knowledge about illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders and psychoses, the main aim is to train the dialogue between those who help and those who need help.

How do I recognize a crisis and when do I help?

The signals that indicate the beginnings of a psychological crisis are often difficult to recognize from the outside. In general, social withdrawal is an indicator, explains course leader Iris Raba. Innuendos or a noticeable number of absences from work could also indicate the beginning of a mental illness.

When it comes to mental health first aiders, the same applies to “physical first aiders”: only those whose own safety is not at risk can help. For example, in the case of addicts who are violent, first aiders should also call the police. The Bavarian Crisis Service is also a good point of contact in such cases.

Adapted conversation management

The focus of the course is primarily on interviewing. A simple principle of action is conveyed here as a guide for discussions with first aiders. The focus is on appropriate response and communication, sharing information to help those affected, and helping them find professional help and see what other resources might be helpful. It is also important to note that if the person was not ready for it, you should have the conversation again at another time in a perhaps more pleasant environment.

First aiders are not therapists

The MHFA first aid course continually works with updated studies. The courses are offered several times a month across Germany, including online. MHFA stands for Mental Health First Aid – an educational initiative that originated in Australia around 20 years ago. The courses have been running all over Germany for four years. The first aiders are not therapists, but they can be companions on the way to therapy. Nevertheless, they must clearly differentiate themselves.

Recharging your own resources is essential

Knowing your own limits is essential for a mental health first aider, says Iris Raba: “Having such conversations is very tiring and a challenge. Sometimes it’s about existential issues that get to you.”

That’s why it’s even more important to do something specifically to recharge your battery after such conversations. For example, do something nice with friends, cook something, do sports or watch your favorite series – depending on what you like to do. All of this could help those helping.

Mental illnesses: Very curable

The course participants are amazed at what can actually be achieved with appropriate sensitivity. The most important message of the course is that if people address their mental health problems early on, they have a very good chance of recovering and leading a fulfilling life again.

After the last chapter, “Addictive Substances,” the first aider course is over; participants can take the exam on another day. Now they can practice self-care and do something good for themselves.

What the course does for the participants

When asked whether they are actually ready to provide psychological first aid, different answers are given. “It was really tiring because you weren’t really familiar with the topics,” says course participant Marina. And 30-year-old Thomas adds: “I hope that the course has lowered my inhibitions about speaking to people. The structure definitely helps me to have difficult conversations.”

Contact points and outlook

There are various contact points for people in a mental health crisis. In Upper Bavaria, for example, there are general advice centers such as the SPDi-Ingolstadt or the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen addiction advice center and the advice center for relatives of mentally ill people, the ApK Ingolstadt eV. In addition, telephone counseling for anonymous help seekers is available for personal crises – around the clock on 0800 1110111 or 0800 1110222.