scholarly journals Evaluation of a mental health first aid workshop for healthcare professionals

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S1-S1
Author(s):  
Sara Abou Sherif ◽  
Sachin Patel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Mental Health Nurses ◽  
Strongly Agree ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The Uk

AimsAnnually, 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem. Alongside the approach of increasing awareness of the issue amongst the general population, there is a drive to deliver training and education on the recognition and management of mental health crises. Limited resources exist to aid healthcare professionals in delivering mental health first aid (MHFA), with the vast majority focussing on lengthy training courses. Small group problem-based learning (PBL) is utilised widely in medical education and this modality offers advantages in deliverability, audience participation and experiential learning. Our aim was to deliver and explore the effectiveness of a PBL MHFA workshop to various healthcare professionals.MethodAs part of an Emergency Medicine Mental Health Education day, we delivered four 30-minute PBL MHFA workshops. These involved an introduction to MHFA, followed by an interactive discussion of 4 mental health simulated cases, whereby participants anonymously answered a range of questions using the web-based platform Mentimeter. We devised a simple MHFA A,B,C,D,E acronym to bring structure to problem solving. Pre- and post-workshop questionnaires were used to assess outcomes using Likert scales to measure various aspects of MHFA (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree). Statistical significance was calculated using T-Test with P < 0.05 defining statistical significance.ResultA total of 28 professionals attended the workshops, 20 (72%) completed both the pre and post workshop questionnaire. 19 (76%) were nurses (5 Registered Mental Health Nurses and 14 Registered General Nurses), 3 (12%) were doctors, 2 (8%) were HCA's and 1 was a policeman. 15 (75%) of the participants reported historically having had the need to deliver MHFA but only 3 (15%) had previously received training. After the workshop, participants reported significantly increased understanding [3.0 to 4.3 (p < 0.05)] and confidence in delivering MHFA [3.05 to 4.30 (p < 0.05)]. There was significantly improved confidence in assessing risk [3.03 to 4.05], calling for appropriate help [3.45 to 4.35] and de-escalation techniques [3.05 to 4.15].ConclusionTo our knowledge this is the first mini PBL-based MHFA workshop. We have demonstrated that the PBL workshop setup is an effective means to deliver training on MHFA. We recognise the importance of MHFA training reaching a larger audience and its potential value if incorporated into national healthcare training programmes and made available to the general public.

scholarly journals Mental health first aid for the UK Armed Forces

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane M Crone ◽  
Mustafa Sarkar ◽  
Thomas Curran ◽  
Colin M Baker ◽  
Denise Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Education programmes in mental health literacy can address stigma and misunderstanding of mental health. This study investigated self-rated differences in knowledge, attitudes and confidence around mental health issues following participation in a bespoke Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course for the Armed Forces. The mixed methods approach comprised quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. A survey, administered immediately post-training (n = 602) and again at 10-months post-attendance (n = 120), asked participants to rate their knowledge, attitudes and confidence around mental health issues pre- and post-training. Quantitative findings revealed a significant increase in knowledge, positive attitudes and confidence from the post-training survey which was sustained at 10-months follow-up.Semi-structured telephone interviews (n = 13) were conducted at follow-up, 6-months post-attendance. Qualitative findings revealed that participation facilitated an ‘ambassador’ type role for participants. This study is the first to have investigated the effect of MHFA in an Armed Forces community. Findings show participants perceived the training to increase knowledge regarding mental health and to enhance confidence and aptitude for identifying and supporting people with mental health problems. Results suggest that such an intervention can provide support for personnel, veterans and their families, regarding mental health in Armed Forces communities.

scholarly journals UK and Ireland survey of MPharm student and staff experiences of mental health curricula, with a focus on Mental Health First Aid

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Gorton ◽  
H. Macfarlane ◽  
R. Edwards ◽  
S. Farid ◽  
E. Garner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Crisis Response ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Staff Experiences ◽  
Health Teaching

Abstract Background One in four people experience a mental health problem every year and improving mental health care is an international priority. In the course of their work, pharmacists frequently encounter people with mental health problems. The experience of mental health teaching, including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, in undergraduate pharmacy (MPharm) students in the UK and Ireland is not well documented. Students’ viewpoints, contextualised with curricular overviews provided by staff, were analysed to understand their experience. Methods An anonymous, online questionnaire was distributed to MPharm students and staff in the UK and Ireland. Students were asked closed questions regarding their course and exposure to MHFA, which were analysed using descriptive statistics. Open questions were included to enable explanations and these data were used to contextualise the quantitative findings. One member of staff from each university was invited to answer a modified staff version of the questionnaire, to provide a curriculum overview and staff perspective. Results 232 students and 13 staff, from 22 universities, responded. Three-quarters of students did not agree with the statement that ‘mental health was embedded throughout the MPharm’. Most students (80.6%) stated that they were taught neuropharmacology whilst 44.8% stated that their course included communicating with people about their mental health. One-third (33.2%) of students stated that their degree ‘adequately prepared them to help people with their mental health’. Twenty-six students (11.6%) had completed MHFA training of which 89% would endorse inclusion of this within the MPharm. Of those who had not completed the training, 81% expressed a desire to do so. Those who completed MHFA training self-reported greater preparedness than those who did not, but student numbers were small. Conclusions Mental health teaching for pharmacy undergraduates is more focussed on theoretical aspects rather than applied skills. MHFA was viewed by students as one way to enhance skill application. The association of the increased self-reported preparedness of those who completed MHFA could be confounded by a positive environmental cultural. MPharm programmes need sufficient focus on real-world skills such as communication and crisis response, to complement the fundamental science.

A qualitative study exploring adolescents' perspective about Mental Health First Aid Training Programmes promoted by nurses in upper secondary schools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Filipe Oliveira Costa ◽  
Francisco Miguel Correia Sampaio ◽  
Carlos Alberto da Cruz Sequeira ◽  
María Teresa Lluch Canut ◽  
Antonio Rafael Moreno Poyato
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
First Aid Training ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
Upper Secondary Schools

scholarly journals Review of Mental Health First Aid Programs

2020 ◽  
pp. 019394592098074
Author(s):  
Tiago Filipe Oliveira Costa ◽  
Francisco Miguel Correia Sampaio ◽  
Carlos Alberto da Cruz Sequeira ◽  
Isilda Maria Oliveira Carvalho Ribeiro ◽  
Vitor Sérgio de Oliveira Parola
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Group Interventions ◽  
Mental Health Nurses ◽  
Aid Programs

Mental health first aid programs are interventions to empower the community to help people with mental health problems/crises. A review of these programs was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Published and unpublished works from 2009 to 2019 were considered. The review included 252 studies. Several Mental Health First Aid programs were identified, with varying characteristics, participants, and contexts of implementation. These group interventions were carried out among lay people to health professionals, and in adolescents to the elderly. Additionally, they were conducted in-person and/or virtually, using psychoeducational methods and informational materials. The programs ranged from 30 minutes to 24 hours. These interventions can address nursing foci, and the characteristics of the facilitators are similar to those of mental health nurses. Therefore, this review highlighted the opportunity for nurses to explore Mental Health First Aid programs.

Using Stakeholder Perceptions to Inform the Scale-Up of Mental Health First Aid Training in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shurong Lu ◽  
Yanling He ◽  
Kendall Searle ◽  
Pilvikki Absetz ◽  
Brian Oldenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Stakeholder Perceptions ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
First Aid Training

scholarly journals Observations from a small country: mental health policy, services and nursing in Wales

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Ben Hannigan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Small Country ◽  
Mental Health Nurses ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Health Need ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Wales is a small country, with an ageing population, high levels of population health need and an economy with a significant reliance on public services. Its health system attracts little attention, with analyses tending to underplay the differences between the four countries of the UK. This paper helps redress this via a case study of Welsh mental health policy, services and nursing practice. Distinctively, successive devolved governments in Wales have emphasised public planning and provision. Wales also has primary legislation addressing sustainability and future generations, safe nurse staffing and rights of access to mental health services. However, in a context in which gaps always exist between national policy, local services and face-to-face care, evidence points to the existence of tension between Welsh policy aspirations and realities. Mental health nurses in Wales have produced a framework for action, which describes practice exemplars and looks forward to a secure future for the profession. With policy, however enlightened, lacking the singular potency to bring about intended change, nurses as the largest of the professional groups involved in mental health care have opportunities to make a difference in Wales through leadership, influence and collective action.

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