Mahaska Health Partnership Offers Mental Health First Aid Training
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – One in four American adults will have a mental health problem in a year. Mahaska Health Partnership Behavioral Health Services is offering Mental Health First Aid training September 20 and 21 from 9 am to 4 pm.
“This Mental Health First Aid training is a great opportunity for our community,” MHP Behavioral Health Services Director Jan LeBahn said. “Participants will learn how to understand the fear and misjudgment facing individuals who experience mental illness and addiction.”
“Primary care professionals, employers and business leaders, school personnel and educators, state police and corrections officers, nursing home staff, mental health authorities and other audiences can all benefit from becoming Mental Health First Aiders,” urged LeBahn.
According to the National Council on Community Behavioral Healthcare, Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training certification course which teaches a five-step action plan. The steps include assessing a situation, selecting and implementing interventions and securing appropriate care for the individual.
“The goal of the training is to help the general public and direct caregivers recognize the risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems and how to handle these situations,” LeBahn explained.
MHP’s Mental Health Training will be held at their campus in Oskaloosa on September 20 and 21 from 9 am to 4 pm with an hour break for lunch. Pre-registration is required by September 10; call 641-672-3159. The cost to participate is $75 and a $15 non-refundable deposit is required. LeBahn said the training would be highly beneficial for educators and school administrators, human resource professionals, emergency response personnel, social workers and caring citizens.
“This training offers valuable information to help someone in great need and will help build an understanding of their impact on a person experiencing mental health issues,” LeBahn stressed.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641-672-3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
