Transcript Presentation

Positive Mental Health
and
First Aid as a Civil Skill
Eila Okkonen, Ph.D.
Director of Education Centre
2009
Finnish
Association for Mental Health
• promotes and works towards good mental health
• stimulates interaction between individuals and communities
• activates to work voluntary for the welfare of communities
• collects and disseminates information on mental health
• proposes initiatives and publishes reports
• trains professionals, volunteers and civil people
• publishes books and journals
• responds to social challenges in society
• offers support and help
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In Europe
Every year
• over 25 % of European adults suffer from mental health
problems
• 58 000 suicides
• 18,4 millions suffer from major depression
• 18,5 millions suffer from specific phobias 18,5 million
(Green paper on Mental Health)
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When Europeans are feeling bad
(N=29 250)
• 53 % would turn to a family member
• 50 % to a health professional
• 22 % to a friend
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Europeans
(N=29 250)
• 63 % believe that people with mental health
problems are unpredictable
• 37 % think that psychological problems constitute
a danger to others
• 21 % believe that psychological or emotional
health problems will never recover
• 14 % maintain that those who have psychological
problems should blame themselves
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The goals of
the Mental Health First Aid
Participants
- enhance knowledge, resources and coping skills
- will be encouraged to raise issues and discuss
- will be encouraged to help and support others
- learn to assess
- whether their own resources suffice and
- if professional help is needed
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Mental health
• a positive resource in life skill
• a foundation for life
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Mentally healthy person
•optimistic
•satisfied
•able to understand other people
•flexible
•adaptable
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The promotion of health
is cheaper than
to treat and care for illness
and
to dismantle piled-up problems
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The Positive Mental Health
First Aid 1
The participants
• will assess and strengthen their own resources and coping
skills
• will be encouraged to take care of their own and support
close ones’ mental well-being
• improve their own knowledge on positive mental health,
and mental health disorders
• improve their skills to cope with difficulties and to discuss
difficult issues
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Themes of MHFA 1
• personal resources and coping skills
• loneliness
• loss and sorrow
• crises of life
• self destructive behaviour
• sexuality
• occupational well-being
• mental health disorder
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The Mental Health First Aid 2
Participant will
• know the more common mental health disorders and their
symptoms
• be aware of alcohol and drug addiction and the adverse
effects of drug use
• know how to apply the mental health first aid steps
• know how to offer help when necessary
• know how to guide the person to therapy
• learn to identify their own limits to help
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- Australian origin
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The mental health first aid steps
• Assess Risk of Suicide and Harm
• Listen Non Judgementally
• Give Reasurance and Information
• Encourage Person to Get Appopriate Professional Help
• Encourage Self Help Strategies
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Mental Health First Aid ®
as a Civil Skill - cources
MHFA 1
MHFA 2
- Basic training
- Basic training
MHFA 1
MHFA 2
- Instructer course
- Instructer course
MHFA
- tailor maid courses
MTEA –further education
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Mental Health First Aid - 2007
Country
Since
Instructers
Participants
Australia
2000
606
55.000
Hong Kong
2003
22
2.000
Scotland
2003
201
6.900
Canada
2004
59
700
Finland
2006
53
1.000
Singapore
2006
19
470
Ireland
2007
15
240
Great Britan
2007
27
60
1002
66.370
Total
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Every one
needs mental health and well-being skills,
because
a major part of mental health work is carried out
in daily life, at home
at work
at school.
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Contact address
[email protected]