Labette Center for Mental Health Services (LCMHS) is proud to announce they now have two additional individuals from the Center certified in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). Mrs. Trinette Vance, Adult Case Manager & Targeted Case Management, and Mrs. Monica Simpson, Public Relations/Marketing & Administrative Assistant have completed the five day training to be able to provide Mental Health First Aid to the public. The training took place in Wichita, KS from March 18th through March 22nd. It was sponsored in part by a grant from the Tower Mental Health Foundation that was received by The Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas to assist in allowing the Community Mental Health Centers in Kansas have the ability to train staff and provide the program to the communities they serve.
“Mental Health First Aid is an evidence based, internationally recognized intervention that anyone can be trained to used. It is also being promoted nationally as a way to help get people with mental and emotional issues help, sooner than they are now.” stated Executive Director Mr. Matthew Atteberry, LSCSW. “It's exciting to be able to bring this program to Labette County.”
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is a 12 hour interactive public education program. Through the course, individuals are able to learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. MHFA was designed in Australia and has now become available worldwide. MHFA USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by three national authorities – the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. The course teaches a 5 step action plan that gives participants the skills, resources and knowledge to assist in a mental health crisis situation. This training can be beneficial to a wide variety of community members, including, but not limited to: primary care professionals, employers and business leaders, faith communities, state police and corrections officers, nursing home staff, mental health authorities, state policymakers, volunteers, young people, families and the general public.
This 12 hour course is geared toward working with adults who are facing a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aid has recently approved an 8 hour course that focuses on handling mental health crisis with youths. Labette Center will be working towards having individuals trained to provide this course as well, and will notify the community upon completion of the training so that the youth training can be offered as well. Both the adult and youth versions of Mental Health First Aid are evidence based trainings that have undergone studies in Australia, where the program was founded in 2001, to show that participants “…gained a better recognition of mental disorders, a better understanding of treatments, more confidence in providing help to others, improved mental health for themselves, lessened stigmatizing attitudes and decreased social distance from people with mental disorders.” (From www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org)
Vance and Simpson are very excited to be able to offer this training to individuals. They enjoyed the chance to participate in the five day course and to learn how to pass the information on to others.
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| Monica Simpson |
“It is an honor to be able to provide this program to members of our community. Mental Health First Aid is such a wonderful tool and can help a wide variety of individuals gain the ability to assist someone who may be dealing with a mental health crisis” stated Monica Simpson. “I look forward to working with the community with this program.”
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| Trinette Vance |
Vance stated, "Mental Health First Aid is invaluable for everyone. As with any medical condition, early detection & early intervention is key. This training provides individuals with essential knowledge on how to recognize the signs of a mental health crisis & appropriate steps to take to keep that person safe. Whether it be with a friend, a co-worker, a family member or someone in the community - Mental Health First Aid can literally save lives."
For companies or individuals who would like to schedule Mental Health First Aid training, please contact Monica Simpson at 620-421-3770 or 800-303-3770. Labette Center will begin scheduling as of April 1st, 2013 with trainings available as of May 1st, 2013. Labette Center is also able to do an introductory workshop to introduce individuals to the Mental Health First Aid Program. This program would be approximately an hour and a half to two hours and can provide information on the course. For more information on Mental Health First Aid, visit: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org
Labette Center for Mental Health Services provides a full range of mental health and substance abuse services to clients of all ages, and works closely with local agencies to provide the best care possible. The professionals at LCMHS work tirelessly to create hope and opportunities for life change by providing education, support, consultation, and therapeutic behavioral health services to the people and communities of Labette County.
For additional information contact:
Monica M. Simpson – Public Relations/Marketing
Labette Center for Mental Health Services
PO Box 258
1730 Belmont
Parsons, KS 67357
620-421-3770
