Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid training with members of the Vietnamese community in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract BackgroundBangladesh, like other low-resource countries, faces a shortage of a trained mental health workforce to meet its population's mental health needs adequately. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated this. Mental health first aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognized training program that has been operating in Bangladesh since 2015. It offers a potential way to reduce the mental health treatment gap and skills shortage by training laypeople to help support individuals with mental health issues. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of MHFA training in Bangladesh. MethodsAn online modified Delphi study was conducted consisting of two rounds of a self-administered survey and a consensus workshop. A five-step logic framework was used to develop questionnaire statements (n=111) that consisted of 'general,' 'I,' and 'social impact' statements around the seven MHFA aims. The statements were constructed in English and adapted in Bangla. The expert panel consisted of 20 participants trained in the MHFA program. Participants anonymously stated their opinion on 111 round-1 statements and then on 27 low agreement statements in round-2. The consensus workshop facilitated a group discussion where participants explained their views on the low consensus items. ResultsThe consensus ranged from 61.5% (Aim 3: Promote recovery of good mental health) to 100% (Aim 7: To improve own health and well-being) with an overall consensus of 83.8%. 'Social impact' items produced the most (50%) disagreements. Participants' comments reflected 12 themes of MHFA's effectiveness in fostering and promoting mental health individually and socially. There were nine themes of disagreement reflecting individual, sociocultural, and political barriers to the implementation of MHFA in Bangladesh. Participants made recommendations for the MHFA and mental health initiatives in Bangladesh to increase mental health awareness, acceptance, and support in society.ConclusionMHFA training offers Bangladesh and other low-and-middle-income countries a potential solution to tackle mental health burden at individual and societal levels and the additional challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic poses to mental health.

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Mental health first aid training

Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants ◽

10.1097/01.jaa.0000552721.83241.d9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 1-2

Author(s):

Melodie J. Kolmetz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

First Aid ◽

Mental Health First Aid ◽

First Aid Training

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Does Mental Health First Aid training improve the mental health of aid recipients? The training for parents of teenagers randomised controlled trial

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-019-2085-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Amy J. Morgan ◽

Julie-Anne A. Fischer ◽

Laura M. Hart ◽

Claire M. Kelly ◽

Betty A. Kitchener ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

First Aid ◽

Mental Health First Aid ◽

First Aid Training ◽

Randomised Controlled

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Mental Health First aid Training: Review of Evaluation Studies

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01735.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 6-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 128

Author(s):

Betty A. Kitchener ◽

Anthony F. Jorm

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Evaluation Studies ◽

First Aid ◽

Mental Health First Aid ◽

The Public ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Helping Behaviours ◽

First Aid Training ◽

Helping Behaviour ◽

Cluster Randomized

Objective: To review studies evaluating mental health first aid (MHFA) training. Method: Review of three published trials: one uncontrolled with members of the public in a city, one randomized controlled efficacy trial in a workplace setting and one cluster randomized effectiveness trial with the public in a rural area. Results: Most mental health first aiders tend to be middle-aged women whose work involves people contact. All trials found the following statistically significant benefits 5– 6months post-training: improved concordance with health professionals about treatments, improved helping behaviour, greater confidence in providing help to others and decreased social distance from people with mental disorders. Only one trial evaluated the mental health benefits to participants and this found positive effects. Conclusions: Although MHFA training has been found to change knowledge, attitudes and helping behaviours, and even benefit the mental health of participants, there has not yet been an evaluation of the effects on those who are the recipients of the first aid.

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