The author engaging self-care (my right knee is visible)
Hello fellow union members,
I’m excited to share with you my experience with the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course offered by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a week-long CEIU bootcamp where I earned my MHFA certificate.
The goal of MHFA training is to equip the trainee with the ability to assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis while maintaining our own well-being. Working within the union, when members bring their concerns to you the situation is often emotionally charged. Mental health first aid training aims to help you learn to protect yourself and the person requiring assistance. It is crucial to understand that this training does not make you a mental health professional. Do not diagnose. Do not solve the problem, but offer support and guide individuals to appropriate help. This distinction is vital as it protects both the individual in distress and the responder from the dangers of overstepping professional boundaries.
The A.L.G.E.S approach to managing a crisis:
- Assess the risk of harm or suicide.
- Listen nonjudgmentally.
- Give reassurance and information.
- Encourage appropriate professional help.
- Support self-help strategies.
One of the core components of the MHFA course is the A.L.G.E.S approach, which stands for Assess, Listen, Give reassurance, Encourage professional help, and Self-care. This method provides a structured way to navigate through the complexities of a mental health crisis. It starts with assessing the risk of harm, followed by listening nonjudgmentally, giving reassurance, encouraging professional help, and, importantly, emphasizing self-care.
Self-care is particularly crucial as it acknowledges the emotional toll that assisting others can take on the caregiver or activist. Maintaining one’s well-being is essential to being an effective support for others.
For union representatives, who are volunteers, we often encounter emotionally charged situations, and it’s vital to remain grounded and balanced to avoid taking on the stress of those we’re trying to assist. Remember to focus your energy where it can do good. Helping others by offering support, without shouldering the entire burden, as you direct them towards the resources that can provide the help they need.
Understanding the difference between a crisis and an emergency is also a key takeaway from the course. A crisis might involve someone feeling extremely upset or in distress, whereas an emergency involves immediate danger to life or safety. Recognizing this difference ensures that the response is appropriate to the severity of the situation.
A successful MHFA intervention should leave the individual feeling supported and hopeful, with a clear understanding that they are not alone and that help is available. It’s about creating an environment where the stigma around mental health is reduced, and individuals are empowered to seek further assistance.
This is where the use of accurate vocabulary comes into play. The training emphasizes the importance of using language that respects and validates individuals’ experiences without contributing to the stigma surrounding mental health.
I hope to encourage my fellow union members to consider MHFA training. It’s a step towards building a more resilient and supportive community, where we’re all better equipped to help each other through challenging times.
For those interested in learning more about MHFA, I encourage visiting the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Opening Minds. Additionally, a series of informative videos can be found on YouTube.