Editor: Caroline MORAND-NARDINI LQHSSTE student – January 18, 2022
The COVID crisis has damaged our physical health, changed our lifestyles, and impacted our mental health.
The First Aid in Mental Health training will allow you to provide help to anyone who suffers from a mental disorder.
According to the 2004, World Health Organization (WHO) guide "Investing in Mental Health", one in four people is affected by a mental disorder during their lifetime.
Moreover, according to a study carried out in 27 countries of the European Union, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway and published in September 2011, by the European College of Neuropsych pharmacology, 27.1% of this target population suffers from mental disorders.
What is mental Health ?
Image source: "Keep in mind – what is mental health" published on
05 March 2021 INSERM
https://www.inserm.fr/c-est-quoi/garder-en-tete-c-est-quoi-sante-mentale/
The WHO defines mental health as : " a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".
The Mental Health First Aid was born in Australia in 2001, created by a nurse in Health Education, Betty KITCHENER, who suffered from chronic depression, and her husband Anthony Jorm, a mental health researcher. Mrs. Claire Kelly, the first instructor, was also in charge of its international development (25 countries with 4 million mental health first aiders trained in the world in January 1st, 2022).
In France, the Minister of Health Agnès BUZYN has selected this training as one of the 25 priority measures for prevention. Since 2019, the Association “Premiers Secours en Santé Mentale France” and its partners (INFIPP, SMF, UNAFAM) offer paid training (worth about 250 euros) to all citizens and it is free for students at some universities to help prevent the risk of suicide.
Source image: https://www.asso-sps.fr/
What can we learn during the training?
I was able to follow this training provided by the association “Santé Mentale France” at ESAT Bastille, on January 10 and 11, 2022.
We were a group of 14 people composed of professionals working in the mental health sector but also a cultural project manager, a butler, a human resources trainer, and other not-medical professionals. The training can be followed by any citizen wishing to become a mental health first aider.
Each mental disorder is explained and thanks to role plays implying different scenarios, the trainees can learn, practice, and implement the action plan of the mental health first aid:
- Approach the person, evaluate, and assist in case of crisis,
- Listen actively and without judgment,
- Comfort and inform,
- Encourage the person to go to specialized professional helpers
- Inform about other available resources.
The situation on the theme of schizophrenia was very interesting in order to study the emotions and reactions that this disorder can generate. Relaxation exercises are performed after each sequence of the training (for example we tested the Mindfulness). These relaxation exercises are also a solution to offer to people who suffer from anxiety disorders.
Very explicit videos are also broadcast, which bring an additional pedagogy to the visual content.
The "Manual of First Aid in Mental Health" is offered to the participants. After describing the steps of approaching, listening, and comforting, this manual also provides a list of professionals as well as useful resources (e.g. addresses of associations) on which to rely to encourage people suffering from a mental disorder either to consult and / or find further resources.
Thanks to this training I have got now a better understanding of mental disorders but also of aggressive behavior, which allows me to assess situations and take action.
I also understood that, in order for the person to get better, it is primordial to follow a better lifestyle (sleep, sport, food, social relations). Moreover, close entourage can play an important role to help preventing future distress.
On January 11, I was also able to interview Mrs. Marie Condemine, who was my trainer during these two days at ESAT Bastille:
- What is your profile and how long have you been a trainer?
I am a clinical psychologist and an instructor of mental health first aid. I am part of the pilot team for the project “Premiers Secours en Santé Mentale France” composed of members of the associations INFIPP, UNAFAM and Santé Mentale France. The Australian association MHFA traveled to France for a week, in 2018, to train all the members of the France pilot group.
- In your opinion, is there an imposing need for this new type of training?
The health crisis has shed light on mental health issues. Society, in general, is not sufficiently aware, which delays the assumption of medical care.
As of 1 January 2022, there are 392 accredited trainers and 16,277 trained first aid workers. The goal is to reach 750,000 mental health first aiders by 2027.
- What will this training bring to the people who will follow it?
This training makes it possible to better sensibilize the entourage, avoid stigmatization, promote solidarity and provide initial help to the people suffering from mental disorders.
- Isn't it difficult for participants to address this topic of mental health?
No, it’s not difficult because the group dynamics allows a positive atmosphere and some more sensitive issues are approached with humor in order to de-dramatize the situations.
- Are there any additional training courses?
Examples of additional training are:
- UNAFAM "How to help a loved one who does not want to be helped?".
- Sentinel Network: Sentinel Suicide Prevention
Conclusion:
The COVID crisis continues to lead to an increase in mental disorders and mental health is a real public issue because it concerns everybody. So, what are you waiting for? Join the training and be ready to help with the due kindness, listening, and best advice.
Bibliographic sources:
• World Health Organization (who) guide "Investing in Mental Health",
• European study, published in September 2011 by the European College of Neuropsych pharmacology (ECNP): H.U Wittchen, F. Jacobi, J. Rehm et al, "The size and burden of mental disorders and other disorders of the brain in Europe 20103 European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2011, ch.21, p.655-679
• WHO Definition of Mental Health: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response and Dr Margaret Chan, Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, World Health Organization
• "Mental Health First Aid Training" https://pssmfrance.fr/contenu-des-formations/formation-premiers-secours-en-sante-mentale/
• Press release of 21 March 2020 Jacques Marescaux President PSSM France https://pssmfrance.fr/7743-2/
• "To keep in mind – what is mental health" published on 05 March 2021 INSERM https://www.inserm.fr/c-est-quoi/garder-en-tete-c-est-quoi-sante-mentale/
• Website:
• Premiers Secours en Santer Mentale France: https://pssmfrance.fr/
• MentalHealth First Aid Australia and USA Homepage | Mental Health First Aid (mhfa.com.au) - https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
• Association Soins aux professionnels de la Santé : https://ww w.asso-sps.fr/prise-en-charge/psychologique/dispositif-sps
• Government website for students: https://www.etudiant.gouv.fr/fr/besoin-d-une-aide-psychologique-1297
• Psycom website and resource selections: Preserving your mental health in times of Covid: our selection of resources – Psycom – Mental Health Info
• Mental Health Federation France: https://santementalefrance.fr/
• National Union of Families and Friends of Sick and/or Mentally Handicapped Persons UNAFAM: https://www.unafam.org/
• National Institute for the Training of Nurses and Psychiatric Professionals https://www.infipp.com/
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