Most would agree that a CPR certification is important. Knowing what to do if someone stops breathing until professional help is available can ultimately save their life. But what about a mental health emergency? Would you know what to do if someone was in crisis or planned to harm themselves? Being trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) can teach you how to handle situations like these. Just like CPR, Mental Health First Aid is used to help someone in a mental health emergency until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves. Not only does this training teach you what to do during a mental health emergency, but it takes the fear out of participating in dialogue surrounding mental health and helps you to transition into taking action to become educated and educate others.
Mental health problems in the United States are more common than many recognize. One in five adults will experience having a mental disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), neuropsychiatric disorders are the No. 1 leading disease or disorder category contributing to the U.S. DALYs. DALYs are the units used to measure daily-adjusted life years, which represent the total number of years lost to illness, disability or premature death within a given population. More than half of these neuropsychiatric disorders are attributed to mental and behavioral disorders alone. Because of the high statistics associated with mental health problems, the popularity of Mental Health First Aid training has grown substantially since its start, even being endorsed by celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama.
In December 2018, Austin Area African American Behavioral Health Network hosted a Mental Health First Aid training attended by the Be Well Victoria Team, two Victoria community members and fellow Well-Being In Rural Communities Grantees from Bastrop County. The training provided information on how to alleviate the stigma around mental health and gave information on specific mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. We engaged in dialogue about how this affects rural communities like Victoria specifically and how this training can help implement change. The team was excited to bring this information back to Victoria.
Earlier this month, Gulf Bend Center hosted a Mental Health First Aid Training for Youth here in Victoria. Knowing the impact MHFA had on our team, Be Well Victoria jumped at the opportunity to have members of the BWV Coalition and community members participate in the training. We had 15 individuals participate in the training, including members of the Be Well Victoria Coalition, Health Department Staff, Prospera Housing Staff and staff from Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent. Mental health amongst our youth in Victoria has become a heightened topic recently, and it is important for adults, caregivers, teachers and health professionals to understand how to identify signs and symptoms of a mental health problem or crisis in children and young adults.
Mental health is a critical component of overall well-being in Victoria County. We keep this in mind as Be Well Victoria prepares for the Community Baseline Report Presentation. We invite you to join us to discuss issues affecting mental health and well-being in our community and to learn how you can be part of the solution. We will share information about the Be Well Victoria collaborative and discuss our path moving forward. Our friends from Alliance for Greater Works and Susan Wolfe & Associates will be with us to help discuss necessary steps to grow the collaborative and make an impact on the mental health and well-being of Victoria County. Everyone is welcome.
