Adult in Person Processing Guide
Adult in Person Processing Guide
Adult in Person Processing Guide
MHFA.ORG | THENATIONALCOUNCIL.ORG
Mental Health First Aid® USA ©2021. National Council for Behavioral Health
d/b/a National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ISBN: 978-0-9600905-9-4
This Mental Health First Aid material has been adapted from MHFA
International materials, under license from Mental Health First Aid
International. For further information, contact MHFA International:
www.mhfa.com.au
This document also incorporates materials from the National Council for
Mental Wellbeing. This added content is owned and copyrighted by the
National Council for Mental Wellbeing and cannot be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the
proper permission from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise — without prior permission. To
obtain permission, contact the National Council for Mental Wellbeing at the
address below.
www.MHFA.org
www.TheNationalCouncil.org
WELCOME LEARNERS!
Dear Participant:
We are delighted that you have chosen to become a Mental Health First Aider.
Your dedication to the program will greatly impact the lives of people living with mental health
challenges.
More than 20 million Americans experience a mental health challenge in any given year. In a world
that sometimes makes it feel impossible to ask for help, it’s up to all of us to know when and how to
offer it.
During this course, you will learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential
mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a person who may
be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer someone to appropriate professional
support and services.
By taking this course, you are joining millions of people who have made the commitment to
Thank you again for your dedication. Best of luck to you as you begin your journey to becoming a
Mental Health First Aider.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Call to Action........................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Course Objectives.................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Segment 1................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10
Segment 2............................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Segment 3.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Segment 4.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Segment 5.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Segment 6.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 36
Segment 7.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 42
Segment 8.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 48
Segment 9.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 54
Segment 10.............................................................................................................................................................................................75
Reflection................................................................................................................................................................................................ 79
Resources................................................................................................................................................................................................80
Notes.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 81
When you use the skills you learn in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), you are the first line of
support for a person in need. You are there to help them feel less distressed and you can be a
vital source in helping them seek further assistance.
Your body language, what you say, and how well you listen can have a powerful impact. The
quality and type of support you offer through listening can enhance coping and self-esteem.
With an accurate view of mental health challenges and using a strengths-based holistic
perspective, you can help others to help themselves.
You can also be an advocate, empower your community, and improve self-care. As a Mental
Health First Aider, you can be the one to make a difference in the life of someone with a
mental health challenge. Your actions can be a first step in someone’s recovery journey.
#BETHEDIFFERENCE
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS MOVEMENT!
MHFA affirms that unfair and unjust institutions have prevailed in our communities. These include
a lack of proper funding for education and health care services; covert and overt violence, and
resulting immediate, historical, and intergenerational trauma; egregious barriers to critical resources;
and more. When noting that health inequities are present, Mental Health First Aiders should not draw
conclusions about the group or community where health outcomes are not optimal. Health inequities
do not result from individual choices. Rather, they stem from systemic forces. Assumptions about a
group’s values, efforts, abilities, strengths, health behaviors, health choices, resilience, and well-being
are not useful.
Further, MHFA believes that scientific and health research and data collection should include all
genders to amplify the experience, rights, and needs of all members of our communities. We note
that to date, health and science research often does not use a framework that includes people of all
genders but rather the binary of woman/man in data collection.
Health inequities should not be used to draw conclusions about a group or community’s:
VALUES
EFFORTS
ABILITIES
STRENGTHS
HEALTH BEHAVIORS
HEALTH CHOICES
RESILIENCE
WELLBEING
Mental Health First Aid USA wrote and chose scenarios and videos to elevate the visibility of varying
identities, perspectives, challenges, and stories of learners and Instructors in communities across the
United States. The stories and characters in the scenarios and videos are not meant to be used for
generalizations about communities or for confirmation of stereotypes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Provide an overview of the course.
• Describe the purpose of Mental Health First
Aid and the role of the Mental Health First
Aider.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• An “Awkward Conversation.”
• Mental Health First Aid.
• Mental Health First Aid Action Plan.
• Health and Culture.
• Your role as a Mental Health First Aider.
ELLA SCHEURELL
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Mental Health First Aid is the help offered to an adult experiencing a mental health challenge.
• Mental Health First Aiders do not diagnose themselves or others. Rather, they observe
changes in behaviors and offer a nonjudgmental listening ear.
• Mental Health First Aid does not supersede any professional, legal, or organizational
obligations that a Mental Health First Aider may be bound by.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Identify the impact of mental health
challenges on the wellbeing of adults in the
United States.
• Explain that recovery from a mental health
challenge is possible.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Stigma.
• Person-first language.
• Mental wellness, mental health, challenge,
mental disorder.
• Disability.
AGIOS TREE
• Risk factors and protective factors.
“I continue to use this motif, which
• Recovery.
depicts myself as a flawed individual.
‘Agios Tree,’ depicts how adaptable and
constant nature can be, and what I strive
to achieve.”
TIMOTHY AMUSSEN
Worsening
WHAT IS A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE? Early
Signs and
Signs and
Symptoms
Symptoms
Crisis
Signs and
Symptoms
M
EN
CH TA
AL L H
LE EA
N LT Diagnosed
GE H with Mental
Illness/Mental
Disorder
A. Cardiovascular diseases
B. Circulatory diseases
D. Neuropsychiatric disorders
(mental disorders, behavioral disorders, neurological disorders)
EMILY CARLOS
KEY TAKEAWAYS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Describe the purpose of Mental Health First
Aid and the role of the Mental Health First
Aider.
• Identify the importance of self-care.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Scope of a Mental Health First Aider.
• When and how to use ALGEE.
• Self-care.
• Self-care Action Plan.
IN THE BEGINNING
DANIEL KASPERICK
Intellectual
Occupational
Emotional
SELF-CARE
Community ACTION Environment
PLAN
Financial Physical
Spiritual
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Mental Health First Aiders do not diagnose, do not treat, and consider safety before engaging
with the MHFA Action Plan.
• Self-care is an important part of being a Mental Health First Aider. Self-care is important
because it:
» Can help individuals be more effective Mental Health First Aiders.
» Can promote mental health.
» Can impact how a person navigates a mental health challenge.
» Can support a person’s recovery road.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Increase awareness of common mental
disorders in the United States.
• Review the scope and role of a Mental Health
First Aider.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Common mental disorders.
BALANCE
Skim the chapter on your assigned mental disorder and create a poster with your group that conveys
important information about the disorder. This information should include:
• A description of the disorder.
• A description of how a person experiencing the disorder may look, feel, behave, and think.
• Crises associated with the disorder (suicide, overdose, panic attack, etc.).
• One risk factor and one protective factor for the disorder.
• A resource to get help with the disorder.
Be sure to clearly label your poster with your assigned mental disorder.
Use the space below to document ONE key takeaway from your classmates’ posters. You do not
need to fill in the space for your assigned chapter.
EATING DISORDERS
A person can experience one event that has a lifetime impact on their overall wellbeing and their
capacity to cope. For another person, the impact of trauma may build up over time through a series
of traumatic events before an impact is identified.
Potential crises:
• Nonsuicidal self-injury QUICK FACTS:
• Suicidal thoughts and • It is typical to have a negative reaction after a traumatic event,
behaviors but a person may be diagnosed with PTSD when they are
• Psychosis unable to cope with the traumatic experience for more than
• Substance use four weeks.
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Anxiety is a feeling of worry caused by perceived threats in the environment.
It appears that there is no single cause of bipolar disorder, but rather that both genes
(heredity) and other factors play a role. There are different types of bipolar disorder.
Potential crises:
• Nonsuicidal self-injury QUICK FACTS:
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors • Half of all people with bipolar disorder will have had
• Psychosis their first episode by age 25.
• Substance use • 2 out of every 100 adults living in the United States
experience bipolar disorder every year.
PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
Psychosis is a condition in which a person has lost some contact with reality.
The person may have severe disturbances in thinking, emotion, and behavior.
Psychosis usually occurs in episodes and is not a constant or static condition.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• An important part of being a Mental Health First Aider is to notice signs and symptoms. We
do not diagnose or treat.
• It is important to not confuse feelings with diagnosable medical conditions (e.g., feeling
depressed vs. depressive disorders; feeling nervous vs. anxiety disorders).
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental
health challenges that may impact adults.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• The difference between signs and symptoms.
• When signs and symptoms become a
challenge.
• Recognizing signs and symptoms:
» How a person may appear.
» How a person may behave.
HEART TASTING: » How a person may feel.
PROCESSING TRAUMA
» How a person may think.
“This piece is a semblance of my trauma
and healing experiences. Processing
trauma and growing in self-awareness is
a journey that takes years of unraveling,
questioning, researching, listening, and
educating. In my experience with trauma,
there were many voices that pressured,
brainwashed, gaslighted, and shamed
me. The voices of support, compassion,
openness, and understanding have
been invaluable to the healing process.
Ultimately, ‘Heart Tasting’ helped me trust
my own experiences, motives, and voice
again.”
SARAH TANG
KEY TAKEAWAYS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
• Learn the 5 steps of the Mental Health First
Aid Action Plan (ALGEE).
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE).
DAISY IN MAY
SARAH MONTGOMERY
E
L
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID ACTION PLAN
• Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
• Listen nonjudgmentally.
Assess
ENCOURAGE
appropriate LISTEN
• Give reassurance and information. professional nonjudgmentally.
help.
• Encourage appropriate professional help.
• Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
E GIVE
G
reassurance and
information.
It’s such a beautiful day outside. How can you Something seems to be bothering you.
feel so sad? Do you want to talk about it?
How long have you been feeling like this? I’d like to stop and talk, but I’ve got to go. I’ll
give you a call later.
Have you spoken to anyone about this
before? You’re here to work and have a job to do. It is
time to get on with it.
Pull yourself together.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE) is a non-linear plan. Action A involves
assessing for crises. If the person is determined to not be in crisis, you may move to other
parts of the Action Plan.
• Use verbal and non-verbal cues to convey nonjudgmental listening.
• Giving reassurance and information is not the same as giving advice.
• Reassurance is a statement or action taken to help remove a person’s fear.
• Information is a set of facts given about a specific topic.
• There are many types of professionals who can help and a wide variety of treatments available
to help a person recover from a mental health challenge.
• There are a wide range of self-help and coping strategies that are effective.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
• Learn the impact of early intervention on
mental health challenges.
• Apply the appropriate steps of the Mental
Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE) when a
person shows early signs of a mental health
challenge.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Importance of early intervention.
• Early signs and symptoms.
• Apply ALGEE to non-crisis situations.
KIMBERLY FRENTHEWAY
APPEARANCE
Tired looking.
Disheveled clothing.
BEHAVIOR
FEELINGS
Sadness.
Worry.
THOUGHTS
Indecisiveness.
HELPFUL UNHELPFUL
ASSESS: IS THE PERSON IN CRISIS? HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THE PERSON?
GIVE: WHAT REASSURANCE AND INFORMATION WOULD YOU GIVE IN THIS SCENARIO?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE) is a non-linear plan. MHFA is most effective
as an early intervention.
• Typically, the sooner you can connect a person to professional and self-help resources, the
better the outcome for the person.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
• Apply the appropriate steps of the MHFA
Action Plan (ALGEE) when a person shows
worsening signs of a mental health challenge.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Impact of delaying treatment.
• Worsening signs and symptoms.
• Apply the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan
(ALGEE) to non-crisis situations.
FIRST IMPRESSION
PETE MORELEWICZ
IT.
APPEARANCE
BEHAVIOR
Absenteeism or “presenteeism.”
FEELINGS
THOUGHTS
Increasing sadness.
Hopelessness or despair.
Increasing worry.
Anger or rage.
HELPFUL UNHELPFUL
AFTER THE CRISIS: HOW DID THE COACH CONTINUE TO HELP AFTER
THE CRISIS SITUATION RESOLVED?
ASSESS: IS THE PERSON IN CRISIS? HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THE PERSON?
GIVE: WHAT REASSURANCE AND INFORMATION WOULD YOU GIVE IN THIS SCENARIO?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
• Apply the appropriate steps of the MHFA
Action Plan (ALGEE) in crisis situations.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Definition of a crisis.
• Considerations when reaching out.
• Types of crises.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE
GEN GAINES
APPEARANCE
Excessive vomiting.
Difficulty breathing.
BEHAVIOR
FEELINGS
THOUGHTS
Thoughts of self-harm.
Hopelessness.
Delusional thinking.
Hallucinations.
HELPFUL UNHELPFUL
• Attempt to de-escalate.
• Listen nonjudgmentally.
• Ask directly: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” or “Are you thinking about
suicide?”
• Work together to keep them safe for now. Consider calling the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline.
• If you don’t feel as though you can keep the individual or yourself safe, get help
immediately.
APPEARANCE
BEHAVIOR
FEELINGS
THOUGHTS
HELPFUL UNHELPFUL
APPEARANCE
BEHAVIOR
FEELINGS
THOUGHTS
APPEARANCE
BEHAVIOR
FEELINGS
THOUGHTS
HELPFUL UNHELPFUL
• Call 911.
• De-escalate.
• If your safety or the safety of the person or others is at risk, get help immediately.
PURPOSE
ROLES
• Observer (Optional)
RULES
• Challenge by choice.
• Only read from the script.
• Maintain your typical speaking voice.
DIRECTIONS
SCRIPT
FEELINGS: WHAT FEELINGS DID YOU NOTICE OR DID THE “ADULT” EXPRESS?
APPEARANCE
BEHAVIOR
FEELINGS
THOUGHTS
HELPFUL UNHELPFUL
ASSESS: IS THE PERSON IN CRISIS? HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THE PERSON?
GIVE: WHAT REASSURANCE AND INFORMATION WOULD YOU GIVE IN THIS SCENARIO?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• The following situations may become a crisis: panic attacks, aggressive behaviors, substance
misuse, following a traumatic event, NSSI.
• The following situations are an immediate crisis: medical emergency, suicidal thoughts and
behaviors, severe effects of drug or alcohol use, and severe psychotic state.
• When a Mental Health First Aider notices warning signs of suicide, it is best to ask the
question, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” or “Are you thinking of suicide?”
• More detailed information on how to respond to crises can be found in your participant
manual.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
• Learn how to choose appropriate methods
for self-care following the application of
Mental Health First Aid in a crisis or non-crisis
situation.
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:
• Self-care.
• Recovery.
• Privacy.
I AM MORE
AMY KERR
“Sorry I was late to pickup yesterday. I was helping my friend, Sarah Kong. She was
having a panic attack, and it came out of the blue. I wanted to be there for her.”
“I can’t share names, because I want to respect their privacy, but this person is in a
leadership role within the Communications Department.”
“See email below. What was the name of the counselor that your friend went to? She
really liked her, right? I want to send my cousin information about counselors in the
area.”
“I want to get your input to see if I did the right thing. My co-worker, the one with
the four children at the same high school as your son, seems to be really sad lately.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Mental Health First Aiders can support a person in their recovery by continuing to use the
steps of MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE), if needed.
• Self-care is an important part of being a Mental Health First Aider.
• Respecting privacy is critical when debriefing with someone during or after providing support
in your role as a Mental Health First Aider.
3 RESOURCES TO REMEMBER
2 THINGS I LEARNED