Mental Health First Aid Training

Lake Geneva School Employees Trained in Mental Health First Aid
Posted on 05/17/2022
Lake Geneva School Employees Trained in Mental Health First Aid

Lake Geneva Schools School Counselor, Rob Ocker and Director of Student Services, Joe Reynolds, became Mental Health Certified Trainers in the summer of 2022. Recently, they used their training to provide a workshop for many Lake Geneva Schools staff.

 

What is Mental Health First Aid and What does it teach?

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an early intervention public education program. The program is skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge. Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, MHFA helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis until professional assistance is obtained or the crisis is resolved. 


Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step Action Plan to recognize warning signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, provide help in crisis and non-crisis situations and understand where to turn for additional assistance. The 5-step Action Plan (ALGEE) is: Assess for risk of suicide or harm; listen nonjudgmentally; give reassurance and information; encourage appropriate professional help; and encourage self-help and other support strategies. 


Through MHFA, more than 2.6 million people in the U.S. have been trained by over 25,000 certified Instructors to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. Peer-reviewed studies have proven that trained Mental Health First Aiders are more knowledgeable and confident in identifying and helping an individual in distress.   


Lake Geneva Schools Nurses and Health Aides Trained

During Mental Health Awareness Week, on May 12, 2022, Lake Geneva School Nurse and Health Aides were training to become Mental Health First Aid Responders. The staff learned a 5-step Action Plan to recognize warning signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, provide help in crisis and non-crisis situations and understand where to turn for additional assistance.


Staff Members Trained Included:

Director of Health Services, Stefanie Keisler

Central-Denison Health Aide, April James

Star Center Health Aide, Melissa Monge

Eastview Health Aide, Kathleen Bedore

LGMS Health Aide, Eren Amador

Badger Nurse, Beverly Ketelsen

Badger Health Aide, Lindsey Amador


The training was helpful for the School Nurses and Health Aides to be more prepared to deal with increasing mental health issues among students. The training helped the staff to have the skills to know what to do and what not to do in crisis and non-crisis situations. The training was extremely beneficial. Additional Lake Geneva Schools staff will be trained in the future.


About the Trainers

Rob Ocker and Joe Reynolds are certified trainers to teach Youth Mental Health First Aid by the National Council for Mental Health Wellbeing. They have successfully trained many adults who help youth.  They can be contacted to do training in your area. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]


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