IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID IMPORTANT?

“Mental health first aid is the help offered to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional help is received or until the crisis resolves (1)”.

Mental Health First Aid encourages the early detection and intervention by teaching people about the signs and symptoms of specific mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, addictions, and anxiety, among others.

Mental Health First Aid helps to:

• Promote recovery of good mental health
• Provide help to prevent the mental health problem from becoming more serious
• Preserve life where a person may be at risk of harm
• Provide comfort to a person with a mental health problem.

Why Mental Health First Aid?

There are many reasons why mental health first aid is important. These reasons include:

1. Mental health problems are common, especially now during the pandemic that has caused a lot of uncertainty, grief and loss. These common mental health illness include depression, anxiety and misuse of alcohol or other drugs.
2. Professional help may not always be readily and easily accessible to everyone. Mental health professionals in Kenya and other developing countries such as psychologists and therapists are few. Those available are mainly found in private hospitals that are not affordable by the majority.
3. Stigma and discrimination is still highly associated with mental health problems even here in Kenya. Stigma and discrimination of the mentally ill person may have a number of negative effects such as the reluctant in seeking help, support and treatment, being ashamed of discussing mental health problems with others and even hiding problems from others (2).
4. There are still so many people that are not well informed about mental health problems and especially on how to recognize such mental health problems, how to respond to someone with mental health problems, and the resources and effective treatments that are available. Additionally, there are still myths and misconceptions about mental health problems such as witchcraft.

Should you have any additions to this article, please leave a comment.

Lots of Love,

Marylyn Ochillo

 Sources

1. Kitchener BA, Jorm AF, Kelly CM. Mental Health First Aid International Manual. Melbourne: Mental Health First Aid International, 2015. Available from: https://mhfa.com.au/shop/international-mhfamanual-2015
2. Barney LJ, Griffiths KM, Jorm AF, Christensen H. Stigma about depression and its impact on help-seeking intentions. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2006, 40: 51-4