Kathy Davis, Communications
One in five adults in the U.S. experience some form of mental illness each year. In 2019, less than 45 percent of adults with mental illness received treatment.
The odds of a WSDA employee encountering someone with a mental illness are high. It may be a customer or member of the public, a coworker or family member, or on the street walking to and from the office.
The proportion of employees who said in the annual State Safety Survey they would know how to respond to a person experiencing a mental health crisis has grown over the past six years – from 17 percent in 2015 to 40 percent in 2021.
However, many more employees are confident about their ability to respond to other emergency events, such as fire (91%), earthquake (80%), and active threat (75%).
First aider response training
Since March 2021 the WSDA Safety, and Health and Wellness programs have coordinated to offer Mental Health First Aid responder training. The online course is taught by Tony Cloud, an instructor certified through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
“Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a crisis related to mental illness,” explained Ron Hussung, head of WSDA’s Enterprise Risk Management Services.
Participants of this course learn to appropriately provide aid to someone experiencing a crisis or challenge, until professional help arrives or the crisis resolves.
According to the course guide, “first aiders” do not diagnose or treat themselves or others.
They are able to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a person may be experiencing a mental health challenge, listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance, and know how to refer the person to appropriate professional support and services.
Ron said his team sought out and arranged to offer the Mental Health First Aid training based on the safety survey results, including several comments from staff asking for more support to deal with the rise in homelessness and mental health issues they encounter.
Course details
Each course offering is limited to 20 participants. Since all are WSDA employees, they bring shared experiences to the interactive training.
Two hours of online study, videos and knowledge checks are required before attending the four-hour, in-person instruction.
The agency’s Enterprise Risk Management Services covers the cost.
Agency staff who have attended the course have offered high praise in their feedback, calling it engaging and applicable to real-life scenarios.
“Thank you for the opportunity to learn about reducing stigma, raising mental health literacy and creating communities of recovery and hope by advancing Mental Health First Aid preparedness,” wrote one participant.
If you are interested in taking Mental Health First Aid responder training, contact Stacy Laney, WSDA wellness coordinator.
In summary: Since March 2021 the WSDA Safety and Health and Wellness programs have coordinated to offer Mental Health First Aid responder training. Participants of this course learn to appropriately provide aid to someone experiencing a crisis or challenge, until professional help arrives or the crisis resolves. Learn more about this training opportunity in the latest Insider blog post.
