Skip to main content

Upstate AHEC Employees Earn Mental Health First Aid Certifications

Upstate AHEC Continuing Professional Development
Coordinator Lauren Taylor with Mental Health First Aid
Instructors Krissi Raines and Brittany Alga
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a globally recognized program that originated in Australia in 2001. Participants can become certified in youth or adult MHFA through an eight-hour course in which they learn skills to help someone with a mental illness or someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis. Trained first-aiders are then able to use skills and techniques learned during the training to provide aid to someone in need until appropriate professional treatment and support can be arranged.

Adults spend roughly a third of their adult lives working, and having employees complete a program like MHFA can be essential in creating a mentally healthy workplace in which individuals feel valued, supported and respected. Many workplaces have an automated external defibrillator (AED) and have trained their staff on how to use it properly. Staff generally know when and how to summon emergency help for a physical ailment. However, they are actually more likely to come in contact with someone having a mental health crisis than they are someone having a heart attack.

While Upstate AHEC has supported MHFA programs in rural communities of the upstate, recently Upstate AHEC staff members recognized the importance of this skillset by participating in the training program themselves. Now team members can use the skills they learned through MHFA both in and outside the workplace. After completing the trainings, Upstate AHEC staff reported an increased confidence in assisting someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Staff members have also found strategies learned in the MHFA programs useful in dealing with their own personal emotions and challenges as well.

“I am pleased that Upstate AHEC’s staff had the opportunity to become Mental Health First Aid certified by taking advantage of our continuing professional development team’s Mental Health First Aid courses,” explained Upstate AHEC executive director Nita Donald. “The Mental Health First Aid training courses teach participants to be aware and notice signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders.”

More information about Mental Health First Aid is available online. Information about other upcoming continuing professional development courses is available on the Upstate AHEC website.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A COVID-19 Update from Our Executive Director

At South Carolina AHEC it is our mission to serve the state to ensure each and every community has the healthcare workforce and access it needs. In times like these, it’s even more important to support our healthcare professionals and the health workforce pipeline and, as the pandemic evolves, we are here for you. Just in the past couple of days we have:  Assisted two universities in meeting requirements of their interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum by providing access to AHEC Scholars online programs Provided information about the Health Careers Program (HCP) modules to the SC Department of Education to list with their health sciences curriculum as they transition to online learning Adjusted student housing needs and protocols and assisted with relocating clinical placements while tracking new policies from many institutions Moved numerous live continuing professional development (CPD) events to webinars to help healthcare professionals maintain access to education
Post a Comment
Read more

Kelly Jones, PharmD, Named 2016 South Carolina AHEC Educator of the Year Award

Kelly Jones, PharmD, BCPS is recognized as the 2016 South Carolina AHEC Educator of the Year. Dr. Jones is the Associate Professor of Family Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. He was nominated by the Continuing Professional Development staff of Pee Dee AHEC in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the continuing professional development of healthcare providers across South Carolina and beyond. The South Carolina AHEC Outstanding Educator of the Year Award recognizes excellence in instructors of continuing education in the South Carolina AHEC system. The Outstanding Educator is selected based on their ability to present content in a practical, useful format that meets the needs and expectations of program participants while communicating the material enthusiastically. Educators must also successfully adapt presentations to address multiple learning styles.   Dr. Jones has served the South Carolina AHEC in a myriad
1 comment
Read more

Pee Dee AHEC Health Careers Summer Internship Program Places Students from Five Counties

Left to right:  Sabrora Lemmon, Brittany Lewis,  Brittany Brown, Kathryn Johnson, Courtney Brown, Synobia Miller, Samoria Session   Summer interns in the Pee Dee AHEC Health Careers Summer Internship Program have begun their summer work experiences. Students have been placed in facilities that align with their health career aspirations. This summer’s internship class includes high school and college students from Florence, Sumter, Clarendon, Horry and Marion counties.   To prepare for the work experience, the interns first gathered for an orientation and training session at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. The session addressed topics such as communication skills, professional appearance, and ways to optimize internship experiences. Orientation also allowed the students to meet one another and interact in person with the health careers program coordinator. During orientation, three health professions students along with Traci Coward, Pee Dee AHEC Health Prof
1 comment
Read more