Mankato Clinic Offers Mental Health First Aid Training

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

MANKATO (Sept. 11) — Mental Health First Aid is a national movement to train and empower people to “Be The Difference” in someone’s life. In partnering with the National Council for Behavioral Health, Mankato Clinic is spreading the movement to our community by offering Mental Health First Aid courses.

Mental Health First Aid teaches people how to understand, recognize and respond to someone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. These skills are more crucial than ever because Minnesota’s suicide rate rose by 40 percent from 1999 to 2016 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mankato Clinic began offering Mental Health First Aid to staff in August. Now Mankato Clinic is offering the course to community members from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 8, at the Madison East Center, Mankato. Participants will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. This eight-hour course costs $60 and includes all training materials and lunch. For more details and to register, click here. 

Mankato Clinic Psychiatric Nurse Mary Beth Trembley, RNC, completed training to become a Mental Health First Aid certified instructor. She is leading the course.

“Nearly one in five Americans suffer from mental illness each year. Chances are we encounter coworkers, employees, neighbors, friends and family who are struggling. This course teaches people how to help others and better understand mental illness,” Trembley said.

Participants learn the risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems; signs of depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis and addiction disorders; a five-step action plan to help someone developing a mental health problem or in crisis; and where to turn for help.

Mental Health First Aid USA, operated by the National Council for Behavioral Health, has trained more than 1 million certified Mental Health First Aiders. To learn more, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org or join #BeTheDifference.