A free all-day adult mental health first aid class will be hosted on Friday (April 27) by HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals 3D Community Health.
The class will be held in McDonald Hall at St. Joseph’s hospital, 2661 County Highway I in Chippewa Falls. It is open to anyone wishing to learn the common risk factors and warning signs of specific mental illnesses. The class will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided.
Advance registration is necessary and can be done by phone to 715-717-7479 or online at www.stjoeschipfalls.org/Events-Classes.
Among the illnesses to be discussed during the day are anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and schizophrenia. The class uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how best to offer help in a mental health crisis and teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of specific mental illnesses.
The class provides participants with a five-step action plan to support someone who shows symptoms of a mental illness or is in an emotional crisis. These steps are 1) assess the risk of suicide or harm; 2) listen non-judgmentally; 3) give reassurance and information; 4) encourage the person to seek professional help; and 5) encourage self-help and other support strategies.
The class will be taught by a certified mental health first aid instructor. All participants will receive a program manual to supplement the in-class course material.