East Portland Collective has joined forces with Portland Street Response (PSR) to bring our Lents/East Portland community a skills-based training course that teaches every day folks the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use. At the end of the training, participants will receive a nationally-recognized certification (similarly to the one you’d get from a First Aid training) and will hopefully feel better prepared speaking to and helping a neighbor, friend, or family member in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Read more about the training below.
This training is part of our ongoing joint efforts to decrease the stigma around mental health and houselessness, and increase our community’s resiliency. There is normally a cost associated with obtaining the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certificate; however, that fee will be waived for East Portland Collective participants, thanks to the generosity of Portland Street Response. To further increase accessibility, we will also provide lunch to all participants, as well as childcare and interpretation upon request.
There are 20 spots available for the August 18, 2021 training. To apply, please fill out this form no later than August 2, 2021. We will notify you no later than August 4, 2021 if you’ve been admitted or placed on a waiting list.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches everyday people how to identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges (depression, anxiety, etc.) and substance use issues, and then gives people the tools to help someone who needs support or professional help.
MHFA does not teach people to become the therapist or to provide treatment; it simply teaches someone how to identify a potential problem, how to approach someone and have that conversation, how to assess for risk of harm to self or others, and then what steps they can take to help the person get the help and support they need.
MHFA training is very interactive. Participants will also be given a participant handbook with chapters on various mental health disorders and lists of national resources available.
What you will learn
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
Topics Covered
- Depression and mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Trauma
- Psychosis
- Substance Use disorders
Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well. Learn more about this training here.