Community awareness of mental health issues is part of New View Society's mandate and, to that end, the long-serving advocacy organization is offering a course to teach people skills so they can assist someone facing a mental health problem or crisis.
Mental Health First Aid will help family members, teachers, health care professionals, employers, emergency responders and other groups to support individuals with mental health challenges. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment, mental health first aid is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved.
This 12-hour certificate course costs $150 per person (early bird rate) and will teach participants how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems. The next available course dates are Oct. 2 and 3.
Once the workshop is completed, participants will be able to:
assess the risk of suicide and/or harm;
listen without judgment;
give reassurance and information;
encourage someone to get appropriate professional help or other supports.
The facilitator is Donna Bonertz. Call 604-941-3222, Ext. 110 or email dbonertz@newviewsociety for more information.
