Pharmacy professionals’ preparedness to use Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) behaviors

Background: There is a need to train healthcare professionals to provide first aid to people experiencing a mental health crisis. Research testing the association between Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training and the use of MHFA behaviors could provide evidence of program effectiveness in the pharmacy setting. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to measure the preparedness of pharmacy professionals to function in a MHFA role, and compare preparedness and the use of MHFA behaviors based on demographic characteristics. Methods: Pharmacists and student pharmacists attended MHFA training under a multi-state pharmacy initiative in 2018. An anonymous electronic survey was administered to 227 participants using 4 contacts in May to June, 2019. The survey evaluated if participants had recommended MHFA to others, their preparedness to engage in MHFA behaviors (13 items), and their frequency of performing a set of MHFA behaviors (7 items). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and ANOVA were used to describe the sample and compare these variables across groups. Results: The analysis was based on 96 responses (42.3%). Almost all respondents (96%) had recommended MHFA training to others. Respondents reported that the training program prepared them to provide a range of MHFA behaviors for multiple mental health conditions, particularly for depression and anxiety. Participants most often reported asking about a distressed mood and listening non-judgmentally. Almost half of participants had asked someone if they were considering suicide and a similar percent had referred someone considering suicide to resources. Those reporting the highest levels of preparedness engaged in significantly more MHFA behaviors than those with lower levels of preparedness (p=0.017). Preparedness and use of MHFA behaviors were not significantly associated with respondent demographic characteristics. Conclusion: These data suggest that pharmacy professionals who had MHFA training felt prepared to engage in MHFA and many used behaviors like asking about suicide and making referrals since being trained in MHFA. Research is warranted to better understand what makes someone feel maximally prepared to use MHFA behaviors compared to lower feelings of preparedness.

Download Full-text

Guidelines for the public on how to provide mental health first aid: narrative review

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2018.58 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 427-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Anthony F. Jorm ◽

Anna M. Ross

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

First Aid ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Mental Health First Aid ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Middle Income ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The Public ◽

For Profit ◽

Wide Range

BackgroundExpert-consensus guidelines have been developed for how members of the public should assist a person with a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.AimsThis review aimed to examine the range of guidelines that have been developed and how these have been implemented in practice.MethodA narrative review was carried out based on a systematic search for literature on the development or implementation of the guidelines.ResultsThe Delphi method has been used to develop a wide range of guidelines for English-speaking countries, Asian countries and a number of other cultural groups. The primary implementation has been through informing the content of training courses.ConclusionFurther work is needed on guidelines for low- and middle-income countries.Declaration of interestA.F.J. is an unpaid member of the Board of Mental Health First Aid International (trading as Mental Health First Aid Australia), which is a not-for-profit organisation.

Download Full-text

Mental health first aid: strengthening its impact for aid recipients

Evidence-Based Mental Health ◽

10.1136/ebmental-2020-300154 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 133-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cristina Mei ◽

Patrick D McGorry

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Healthcare ◽

First Aid ◽

Significant Benefit ◽

Full Potential ◽

Mental Health First Aid ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis ◽

First Response ◽

Meta Analyses

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a potentially valuable first response in mental healthcare. MHFA is formulated as an extension of Psychological First Aid, the latter being a more focal response to crises and disasters. MHFA is a broader strategy which aims to improve the general public’s immediate response to mental ill health and mental health crisis. While its effect on those trained in MHFA has been promising, recent meta-analyses have failed to detect any significant benefit to individuals who receive support from an MHFA trainee. Such outcomes highlight the need to revisit the content and implementation of MHFA to optimise and realise the full potential of the concept. Possible solutions are discussed, including developing new MHFA content using methodologies that foster innovation and creativity, in addition to improving the quality and effectiveness of MHFA training.

Download Full-text

New Milestone for Mental Health First Aid Canada 50,000 Canadians Trained to Respond to a Mental Health Crisis

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e505142013-001 ◽

2012 ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

First Aid ◽

Mental Health First Aid ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis

Download Full-text

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Admissions to a Large Swiss Emergency Department: An Observational Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1174

Author(s):

Julia Ambrosetti ◽

Laura Macheret ◽

Aline Folliet ◽

Alexandre Wullschleger ◽

Andrea Amerio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Point Of View ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Psychiatric Admissions

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency with profound mental health consequences. The psychiatric emergency department (ED) plays a key role during this mental health crisis. This study aimed to investigate differences in admissions at a Swiss psychiatric ED from 1 April to 15 May during a “pandemic-free” period in 2016 and a “during-pandemic” period in 2020. The study included 579 consultations at psychiatric ED in the “during-pandemic” period and 702 in the “pandemic-free” period. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were compared, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with psychiatric admissions during the pandemic. A reduction in total psychiatric ED admissions was documented during COVID-19. Logistic regression analysis predicted the independent variable (ED admission during the pandemic) and estimated odds ratio (OR) for being unmarried/not in a relationship, arrival in an ambulance, suicidal behavior, behavioral disorders and psychomotor agitation. Though only statistically significant in bivariate analysis, patients were also more likely to be involuntarily hospitalized. This picture appears to be reversed from a sociodemographic and clinical point of view to our observation of psychiatric ED consultation in 2016. These findings highlight that the reduction in psychiatric ED admissions during the pandemic seems to be associated with living alone and more severe psychopathologies, which must alert psychiatrists to ensure access to mental health care in times of pandemic.

Download Full-text