Cottonwood AZ (January 31, 2017) – What do you do when someone is having a mental health emergency? How can you help your family member, employee, friend or neighbor in their crisis? The Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley and Spectrum Healthcare Group are offering a full-day session on Mental Health First Aid training on Friday, February 17, 8AM-5PM at the Cottonwood Recreation Center, 150 S. 6th St., Cottonwood. 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 first training program for 2017. Last year we had over 120 community members trained. It’s 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, substance use disorders, and eating 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.