MHFA

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MHFA?

• Sally Trembath
• Manager, Mental Health Safer Community
  Programs
• Health Wellbeing Development

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Aims of introducing Mental Health First Aid
(MHFA) at Monash

• ? Reducing stigma associated with mental health
• ? Increasing mental health literacy and
  confidence in order to reduce anxiety when
  dealing with mental health issues
• ? Promoting pro-active and early intervention
  strategies
• ? Building capacity to respond in crisis
  situations
• ? Promoting culture of care and safer community

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Summary of Feedback Overall themes
Change in behaviour Early interventions Improve
d communication Improved workplace outcomes
Change in attitude Reducing stigma Building
capacity
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Tracking these aims Survey Monkey demographics
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Changing attitudeSince completing MHFA, do you
believe you aren 141
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Changing attitudeSince completing MHFA, what
action(s) have you taken to assist someone?

• Listening non judgmentallyn 122
• Provided advice and reassurance n 100
• Called CAT team n 9
• Educated someone about mental health n 54

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Feedback from respondents Reducing stigma
building capacity

• Avoid engaging in mental debate with those having
  a mental health illness.
• Increased awareness has helped boost my
  confidence and tips about how to communicate and
  respond have helped.
• Very positive experience, will be useful in my
  role as a First Aid/Safety Officer and in my life
  outside of work.
• I have changed my approach to people since the
  workshop. I am much more understanding of those
  with depression and anxiety.
• Has given me practical advice for dealing with
  people who suffer from mental illness.

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Change in behaviourQ Since completing MHFA,
have you done anything differently to help others?
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Change in behaviour Q Since completing MHFA,
have you helped someone with
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Change in behaviourQ Since completing MHFA,
what action(s) have you taken to assist someone?
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Feedback from respondents Early interventions,
Improved communication workplace outcomes

• Helped to have strategies for dealing with panic
  attacks I actually helped someone while they
  were having an attack.
• I had to call a CAT team and I was more confident
  in dealing with them because of the training.
• I dealt with a student suffering severe
  depression, including being suicidal and was able
  to convince them to see a professional.
• A staff member was suffering an anxiety attack
  and after having attended the workshop I was able
  to suggest methods of getting them through the
  anxiety episode.
• As a member of the Halls of Residence, I have
  found MHFA to be the single most beneficial
  professional development activity I have ever
  participated in.

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Q. Have you done anything differently to improve
your own mental health? (n145)

• 43 answered Yes
• Comments
• I exercised more, went to a doctor psychologist
• Im far more mindful of negative mental behaviour
  on my behalf
• Ive seen a counsellor improved my mental
  health
• I make sure I get 30 mins exercise a day
  usually walking my dogs
• I sought assistance for depression whereas I
  wouldnt want to admit it previously
• the ultimate
• Im keeping mood notes, more regular exercise,
  yoga pilates, more time with friends family,
  less workload, more time at home relaxing, gone
  on a short holiday interstate

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Reducing staff stress Testimonial

• I feel more able to deal with any unexpected
  mental health problems that I may be confronted
  with in my daily working with students. Coming
  to work in the morning is less stressful because
  I know that when there is a problem I will be
  able to help in a constructive and safe manner.
  I have recommended to my colleagues that they
  should attend the course as well.

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General concerns and recommendations

• MHFA is a fair introduction into mental health
  but it only scrapes the surface. I worry that it
  may make the trainees feel overly confident in
  dealing with people who have mental health issues
  that are not as mild as those portrayed in the
  training.
• Very useful and I think all those dealing with
  students should attend this program. Further, it
  might be useful to run a refresher program (half
  day) each year for those who have done it.
• Whilst MHFA is valuable, I have found getting
  management to understand and acknowledge things
  is the greatest challenge. The failure to
  acknowledge changing situations and symptoms
  seems to be common and managers being older or
  more experienced overrides their willingness to
  listen to the advice of a mental health first
  aider.

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SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING (SAF)
SCALE Adapted from Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) Scale DSM IV
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SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING (SAF)
SCALE Adapted from Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) Scale DSM IV
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SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING (SAF)
SCALE Adapted from Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) Scale DSM IV
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SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING (SAF)
SCALE Adapted from Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) Scale DSM IV
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SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING (SAF)
SCALE Adapted from Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) Scale DSM IV
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SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING (SAF)
SCALE Adapted from Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) Scale DSM IV
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INTRODUCING COMMUNITY CARE-LINE Community
Care-line 990 51599Email communitycare_at_adm.mon
ash.edu.au

• Community Care-line is not an emergency response.
• For emergency response phone security on ext 333
• Community Care-line is a new service providing a
  central point of enquiry by phone or email to
  Community Care staff who will provide advice and
  support for managing concerning or threatening
  behaviour and situations within the Monash
  University community.
• Students and staff are encouraged to ask for
  assistance if they
• Feel threatened or unsafe
• Have concerns about someone elses behaviour
• Are worried about someone harming themselves or
  someone else
• Wish to clarify issues of responsibility,
  confidentiality or duty of care

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INTRODUCING COMMUNITY CARE-LINE Community
Care-line 990 51599Email communitycare_at_adm.mon
ash.edu.au

• The Co-ordinator Community Care programs will
  provide leadership and support at all stages of
  responding to complex and sensitive situations.
• At all times the welfare of both the individual
  and the Monash community will be considered and
  all recommended action will be in accordance with
  university statutes and policies.
• Community care drop-in times for your campus in
  HWD

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Future directions

• Tutor training
• MHFA for students
• Speakers on mental health issues during mental
  health week
• Health Wellbeing Development webpage
  MHFA_at_Monash