Reflections on Mental Health First Aid

Last week, I had the privilege of attending Mental Health First Aid training - a two day course providing the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to get alongside individuals struggling with their mental health and guide them towards further support in their recovery. Much like physical first aid, it’s not about diagnosing or fixing the issue, but it’s about knowing how to spot the signs of crisis, respond appropriately and prevent things getting worse until further help is available. I thoroughly enjoyed the training and would highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to take part in it.

But perhaps for those who don’t have that opportunity or who might not feel it appropriate, for whatever reason, to hold the responsibility of being a trained mental health first aider, I wanted to share three key reflections from the course that might be helpful for everyone to hear. 

1. Mental health issues are common, costly, and serious.

We were presented with a number of statistics over the course, some surprising, some incredibly sobering. Though I consider myself to be generally quite well educated in this sphere, being faced with the sheer volume of people suffering from some form of mental health issue, and the breadth of such issues never fails to hit home. Did you know that the number of people estimated to be affected by mental health issues worldwide is 792 million*, with one in four adults experiencing symptoms of mental ill health each year? The cost of these issues in England alone is estimated at £105 billion per year, equivalent to almost the entire NHS budget. And despite this huge prevalence and cost, the vast majority of those suffering, 70-75% (that’s 554 - 594 million people) receive no treatment at all for their condition. These numbers are just so large that it’s almost impossible to comprehend, other than to accept that the scale of these problems are vast and absolutely cannot be overlooked.

2. Mental health issues are treatable and there is real hope for recovery.

Though these statistics might seem bleak, what also really stuck out to me was that, given the right treatment and support, it is not only possible but probable that individuals can fully recover from a diagnosed mental health condition. Did you know that one in two people experiencing a depressive episode never go on to experience another? Even with conditions such as schizophrenia, which are often assumed to be more chronic or enduring (though important to note that this is a misconception), 50-75% show a significant improvement with support, with 25% of these never going on to experience another psychotic episode again. For many mental disorders, early intervention is important and increases the chance of recovery significantly - which is why training such as this course to help spot early warning signs and signpost to professional help quickly and effectively is so valuable. It should be recognised  that a diagnosis of a mental health disorder, whatever it might be, is not a life sentence - it is actually a ticket towards getting the right treatment and support. And even in those cases where symptoms are longer lasting and do not necessarily go away completely, it is possible to still live a fulfilling, unrestricted life alongside a mental health diagnosis.

3. The power of non-judgemental listening

Perhaps the most valuable skill I learnt throughout this training sounds very simple, but is in fact something many of us fail to do well at all - and that’s listening. But not just listening for the next moment to impose our own opinion or advice or judgement upon what the other person is saying, but genuinely listening with empathy, concern and an appreciation that another person’s experiences are valid and real for them, even if they might not be true for me. So someone might tell me that they feel hopeless, or afraid of the outside world, or even might disclose that they are hearing voices - it is absolutely not my place to tell them whether that experience or feeling is right or wrong, because it is their truth, in that moment. We must remember that those suffering with mental ill health are still, at the end of the day, human beings - with the very same feelings, thoughts and intelligent minds as everyone else around them. The best thing we can all do, not just those of us who are mental health first aiders, but all of us, is really to sit alongside someone who is suffering and offer them an open, non-judgemental platform to express what is going on for them - and know that they will be fully heard and given the dignity, respect and compassion that they deserve. Couldn’t we all do a bit more of that?

I hope you found these reflections helpful, insightful and thought-provoking. Please do get in touch if you have any thoughts, questions or comments - or contact Mental Health First Aid England (MFHA) if you’d like to find out more about the training in particular.

[*all statistics taken from resources by Mental Health First Aid England, references can be found here.}