Sedona AZ (April 10, 2017) – An 8 hour Mental Health First Aid training class is scheduled for Friday, April 28, 8AM-5PM at the Sedona Fire Station, 125 Slide Rock Road in the Village of Oak Creek, Sedona. The program is offered by The Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley and Spectrum Healthcare Group. The 8-hour training is free, open to the public, and each person receives a certificate of completion. Continuing education credit may be available to those attending the 8-hour session.
According to Barbara Litrell, President of the Coalition, “This is our second training program for 2017. Our goal is to train over 100 community members per year so they are equipped to help someone who is having a mental health crisis and can help a family member, employee, friend or neighbor in their crisis. It’s a lot like CPR for mental illness. If someone is having a heart attack and you are trained in CPR, you would know what to do and how to help. That’s what Mental Health First Aid teaches you.” The course focuses on recognizing the signs of addiction and mental illness and the 5 step action plan to assess a situation and offer assistance.
Professional instructors from Spectrum Healthcare Group teach the course, which includes lecture, videos, group activities and reference materials. The course covers first aid for developing mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders. The course also teaches about local resources and where to turn for help. Spectrum Healthcare Group has trained over 7OO community members in Mental Health First Aid.
The Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley is a 501C3 non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to building community support for families and individuals living with mental illness through education, advocacy, and community support services. Bring your lunch. Beverages and snacks will be provided. Class size is limited to 24. Please register early by contacting Barbara Litrell 649-0135 or blitrell@aol.com.