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There's a growing focus on mental health first aid

Appeal-Democrat - 7/5/2017

July 05--Professionals say mental health first aid is just as essential as CPR or the Heimlich maneuver.

While talking with a friend or passing someone on the street, it may not be easy to spot anxiety or depression. But Mental Health First Aid, now the subject of a national campaign, is training the public on the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and how to help someone in need.

Since 2012, Sutter-Yuba Behavioral Health has conducted those trainings for more than 600 people.

"The public has really embraced it," said John Floe, prevention services coordinator for Sutter-Yuba Behavioral Health. "They're not diagnosing, but looking at the signs and symptoms of various issues that may be happening."

Floe said the training consists of modules for different groups, like people in the education field, Spanish-speakers and other public safety audiences. The trainings use ALGEE: assess for suicide or harm; listen non-judgmentally; give reassurance and information; encourage professional help if appropriate; and encourage self-help or other helping strategies.

The trainings also address the stigma that surrounds mental health, Floe said.

"We want to help people learn more about behavioral health and substance use (disorders)," he said. Mental health conditions, he said, are no different than physical health conditions.

"It's like asking, 'why is CPR important?'" Floe said.

In the emergency room

Rideout Hospital is being recognized around the country for its mental health efforts in coordination with Sutter-Yuba Behavioral Health.

Theresa Hyer, emergency room director, said behavioral health crisis workers are embedded in the ER 24 hours a day. The program celebrated its first year in February.

"The collaboration is such a unique thing," Hyer said.

She will be presenting the program at conferences for the Emergency Nurses Association in Missouri and for the California Hospital Association at Lake Tahoe later this year. She said some of Rideout's staff will also be attending the mental health first aid trainings.

Of all of the patients who have received behavioral health assessments, 52 percent were treated and sent out into the community safely with a plan, Hyer said. In most emergency rooms, behavioral health patients wait for "coveted" inpatient psychiatric beds now available at Rideout.

"Every ER is challenged right now with involuntary (mental health hold) patients," Hyer said. "I think we're doing a phenomenal job with Sutter-Yuba Behavioral Health's help."

Law enforcement

and resources

Leslie Carbah, spokesperson for the Yuba County Sheriff's Office, said jail staff gets eight hours of mental health training each year as well as two hours of suicide prevention training. Both corrections staff and police academy staff also touch on mental health curriculum at the academy. On the operations side, the department will soon be implementing the eight-hour mental health classes for rotating field and training officers.

"As first responders ... we're often their first contact in the process of obtaining treatment," Carbah said of the importance of behavioral health training.

Behavioral Health Director Tony Hobson said the field faces challenges, like substance abuse, which can sometimes mirror other mental health issues.

"I think one of the biggest things for us that puts a lot of pressure on our system is not having a medical detox facility," Hobson said, "because those folks who are chronic substance users, they're the high utilizers in the ER or crisis services."

Other challenges include stigma surrounding mental health and getting help.

"People use the word 'crazy' quite a bit," Hobson said. "You wouldn't describe someone ... with diabetes acting a little unusual and moody as crazy. This is the problem ... there's still a lot of stigma in our society and really the uninformed contributing to this problem."

About the training

Mental Health First Aid is an eight-hour in-person training designed for anyone to learn about mental illness and addiction, including risk factors and warning signs. Participants learn a five-step action plan to help people who are living with a mental health challenge or experiencing a crisis. Find courses in the Yuba-Sutter area and sign up at MentalHealthFirstAid.org.

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