On Saturday, Feb. 10, a group of 25 third-year students from the 蜜桃直播 (蜜桃直播) School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences took advantage of an opportunity to receive Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.

The eight-hour course was taught by Lise Porter, a trainer for Mental Health First Aid USA, and , an associate professor of clinical sciences at 蜜桃直播.

鈥淭he students found the training to be engaging and powerful,鈥� Puzantian said. 鈥淭hey left the training with practical tools鈥攚ith potentially profound benefits鈥攖o assist individuals who may be suicidal, intoxicated, psychotic, or having a panic attack or reaction to a traumatic event.鈥�

Upon completion of the course, the 蜜桃直播 students earned three-year MHFA certification. Mental Health First Aid USA is a training鈥攍ike regular First Aid or CPR鈥攄esigned to give people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

鈥淭he biggest takeaway from the MHFA training was that the gift of listening non-judgmentally goes a long way,鈥� said Kristina Joo, PharmD 鈥�19. 鈥淥ften, we are too busy trying to get others to listen to us, when in reality people just want to be understood, especially through hard times.鈥�

The course used role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of specific illnesses. In this particular training, the instructors utilized scenarios and cases specific to pharmacy practice.

Mental Health First Aid teaches participants a five-step action plan, ALGEE, to support someone developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis:

  • Assess for risk of suicide or harm
  • Listen nonjudgmentally
  • Give reassurance and information
  • Encourage appropriate professional help
  • Encourage self-help and other support strategies

Like CPR, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect the person with help. First Aiders do not diagnose or provide any counseling or therapy. Instead, the program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like, 鈥淲hat do I do?鈥� and, 鈥淲here can someone find help?鈥�

MHFA training has been shown to increase knowledge, reduce stigma, and increase supportive actions. Pharmacists adequately trained in mental health can more confidently and effectively communicate with and provide care to those with mental illness.

鈥淧harmacists have a tremendous opportunity to positively impact the lives of those with mental illness, yet stigma and lack of training often pose a significant barrier,鈥� Puzantian said. 鈥淢HFA training can improve pharmacists鈥� abilities and confidence to engage with all patients.鈥�