NCSS welcomes the community to Mental Health First Aid trainings

Do you realize that you’re more likely to encounter a person in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack?  Mental health disorders are more common than heart disease and cancer combined.

What if individuals that encounter depression and anxiety disorders could be helped sooner rather than suffering for long periods without treatment?  The number of lost days at work and the economic burden would be significantly reduced.  Nationwide, untreated mental health disorders cost $79 billion in lost productivity every year.

Some additional facts to consider… over 1 in 5 people in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties presently seeks help for mental health services… suicide rates are rising… growing prescription drug abuse problem related to a range of concerns… domestic violence rates in Vermont are at an all-time high… all of these and more have resulted in demand for support being greater than the resources to meet the needs.

Realizing all of these facts, Ted J. Mable, Executive Director of Northwestern Counseling & Support Services (NCSS) decided to bring the Mental Health First Aid toVermont.  Founded in Australia in 2001, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) operates in 14 countries, including Canada and the United States.  Among its mandates are to educate people on the importance of recognizing the signs of mental illness and reducing the stigma of mental illness through compassion, caring , and understanding.

Community members can attend one or all six modules of the Mental Health First Aid training.

Mental Health First Aid will also go a long way in addressing stigma throughout Franklin and Grand Isle Counties.  A perfect compliment to the NCSS STIGMA initiative… Striving to Increase Good Mental Health Awareness.

Training has numerous applications 

This training is well suited for:

ü      Residential Living Programs for College Students

ü      Rescue Squads

ü      Department of Corrections staff

ü      Law Enforcement

ü      Dispatchers

ü      Bus Drivers

ü      Courts

ü      Educators/School Administrators/Paraprofessionals

ü      Homeless Shelters

ü      Hospitals & primary care health centers

ü      Reception staff in high demand public settings

ü      Nursing homes

ü      Policy makers

ü      Substance abuse professionals

ü      Senior centers

ü      Businesses

ü      Human Resource training curriculums

ü      Families & caring citizens

Special addition to Grand Rounds schedule…

Mental Health First Aid for Community Members

We welcome members of the community to learn more by attending a module that interests you or you can receive certification by attending five of the six modules that are being offered.

All modules are being held in the Main Conference Room at NCSS’ Main Office at 107 Fisher Pond Road.  Each module is two hours in length.

Costs for materials:

The cost is $10 per module for materials.  Or, $35 if you attend 5 modules which includes all materials plus, the certificate.

For more information about the program contact Ted Mable at 393-6416 or tmable@ncssinc.org. 

To register contact Lynn Daudelin at 393-6415 or ldaudelin@ncssinc.org.