Source: University of Otago
Recently graduated mental health first aiders … (from left) Corey Cunningham, Clare Dangerfield, Andrea McMillan, Maria Sokolova, Melissa Carey (front), Sandra Burgess (rear), Lydia Pattillo, Rob Stichman, Michelle Moss, Dasha Joseph Fernandez (front) and instructor Carina Perner (rear).
How would you help a workmate in a mental health emergency?
Staff are lining up to find out and recommending the University’s new Mental Health First Aid course to others.
The evidence-based courses are so popular, about 40 people have completed the initial three – mostly college and Campus Watch staff along with wellbeing champions – the rest of the year’s courses are fully booked, and more are coming next year.
Course graduate Dasha Joseph Fernandez says while she had ideas about what to do in a mental health emergency, the course taught her “what I should do, instead of what I might do”.
Previous experience means Corey Cunningham is not phased dealing with a mental health emergency but would probably still second-guess himself, however since the course, “I would definitely feel more comfortable”.
Course instructor, Occupational Mental Health and Wellbeing Adviser Carina Perner, says one in five people face mental health challenges in any year in New Zealand and 35 per cent of employees nationwide will work with someone experiencing mental distress.
“When life throws you curve balls it doesn’t always lead to a mental health challenge. However, when it does, we just need a little more help, like we do with physical health challenges,” she says.
The hard questions
Everyone on the course learnt about the myths and best practices for helping someone in crisis.
Course graduate Sandra Burgess especially values finding out how to approach an individual with a mental health challenge, including how best to address those conversations that can be difficult.
Graduate Michelle Moss was excited to see the course advertised because mental health is a big issue not only in the community but also at our University, “and I have staff … so I want to be able to help”.
Clare Dangerfield says the course has shown her the signs to watch out for in staff so she is more likely to see a need for mental health support.
Rob Stichman, who used to work for St John Ambulance, even discovered some places that can support people in a mental health crisis she had not known about previously.
Panicked student
When only halfway through the course, AskOtago’s Maria Sokolova was already applying the techniques when a student was panicking about needing IT help to start an exam.
“I was able to get them prepared and they were able to complete the exam,” Maria says.
Lydia Pattillo says students are really open about mental health issues, while some people still tiptoe around them.
Staff
For staff, Melissa Carey says, “we all work in such a fast-paced environment, it’s very important for them have someone to talk to”.
While every building has physical health first aid officers, having mental health first aiders is increasingly essential as well, to help staff or direct them to the best place.
“It’s okay to not be okay,” she says.
Destigmatising
Jenny Shaw says mental health is becoming a more mainstream topic and people are starting to realise how important it is.
“Workplaces are a lot more supportive than they used to be.”
Corey believes the pandemic put mental health “more in the spotlight and forced people to look at it with a more empathetic gaze”.
He also says, “this kind of workshop, and these kinds of people getting this information then spreading it as far as they can, will help”.
Many staff on the most recent course think everyone should do it. Michelle has already recommended it to other people and Sandra will be going over it with workmates during a regular ‘huddle’ meeting.
Staff also say the way Carina runs the course – in such a relaxed, comfortable, and supportive way – makes it easy to share their thoughts.
The course
Carina qualified as an instructor of Te Pou’s course Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa, which she says is an international programme of best practice adapted to include New Zealand’s cultural context.
Worldwide, more than five million people have done the course in the past two decades.
It covers depression, anxiety, psychosis, and problematic substance abuse. It also provides first aid guidelines for suicidal thoughts, feelings, or behaviours; panic attacks and traumatic events; intoxication and aggression, and severe psychotic episodes Carina says.
People on the course learn about the ALGEE action plan which can help to assist someone with a mental health challenge or crisis until they get professional help, just like physical first aid – Approach, assess, and assist; Listen and communicate non-judgementally, Give support and information, Encourage professional help, and Encourage other supports.
Evidence shows the key outcomes from the course include increased mental health literacy and awareness and decreasing stigmatisation.
More support for people in the workplace and confidence providing mental health first aid can only be a good thing, Carina says.
– Kōrero by Operations Group Communications Adviser Gail Goodger
Health and Safety Compliance is part of the Operations Group, which has three top priorities:
Enable – the University to achieve its visions and mission
Engage – with our students, each other, our customers and externally
Experience – of our students, our customers, and externally to be outstanding
