You Know More People Who Are More Likely to Need Mental Health First Aid this week, Than a Designated Driver, or Emergency First Aid.

I recently completed the Mental Health First Aid course run by the Canadian Mental Health Commission. After taking this course, I have to say that it is THE First Aid course or information you are most likely to use. Ever. I have rarely needed to use First Aid training I've kept up for years as a sport coach, but I am willing to bet I will need the Mental Health First Aid this week or next.

If you can't read further, please click the link, go to their site, mark the page as a favourite- there is info you will use, especially through the holiday stress period.

Mental Health First Aid is not what you think: it's not (only) about how to handle it when a random stranger in the mall is having a psychotic episode in front of you.

It's about how to spot potential issues with your colleagues and family, boldly ask, and know what to do when people tell you things that are way over your professional scope (unless you are a trained psychologist/psychotherapist).

Yes, ask. This is one area where the Canadian habit of not being intrusive, is counter-productive. Since suicide outranks homicide and car accidents as a cause of death in Canada, it's worth it to ask. We ask all kinds of questions when we think the people we care about might be driving unsafely or walking in an unsafe area. We pretend we didn't see/hear when it comes to mental health issues. Mental health is not an STI you shouldn't talk about it public.

It's a myth that you shouldn't ask people if they are considering suicide or are depressed out of fear of pushing them further. It's also a myth that you shouldn't ask those questions unless you are trained to provide counselling. We have a population mental health epidemic going on, and there aren't enough trained therapists to manage it on their own. You are far more likely to encounter someone this week with need for support for mental health, than you are to be in a situation where you need CPR or other emergency First Aid. Listening reduces pressure for the person suffering, and helping with triage makes a big difference. You can listen and provide information

As a fitness and sport coach, I've probably taken various First Aid courses at least 7-8 times in the past decade. Thankfully, I have never had to use the information I learned in them, except once where I used Wilderness First Aid to stabilize a spine (my own after a horse accident) and concussion safety training to convince the other equestrians present that getting right back on is exactly what the person on the ground should not do. Since I regularly lead outdoor activities, do fitness training with people with disabilities and medical conditions, and coach a dangerous sport (riding), you would think I would have had more opportunity to use First Aid training. So, my lack of opportunities to implement physical First Aid training is not because I just haven't been in the right scenarios. However, I regularly have numerous moments when I realise there is a mental health need, and I haven't had a clue what is ok and what is not ok to do about it. Now I know.

I was compelled to do the Mental Health First Aid after presenting my research poster at the Canadian Mental Health Association conference this fall and sitting through session after eye-opening session. From my coaching practice and life experience, I had the impression that mental health impacts more people than you realize. But I had no idea that you or someone you know are virtually guaranteed to need support for mental health at some point in your lifetime.

If you have staff, students or coaching clients, colleagues or family members, you need to know about Mental Health First Aid.

It affects life. It affects workplace productivity. A whopping 30% of workplace health claims related to mental health, but- hold your hat- mental health claims form 70% of total costs.

Chronic mental illness affects 1/5 Canadians. Half of all adults over the age of 40, and 1/3 Canadians will go through some form of mental health setback, usually due to life circumstances. There is no shame in being human.

Health is a dynamic state. That means it goes up and down, and can be influenced strongly by the environment around you, and life circumstances. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of well-being where you function well, not merely avoid major illness. Health is " a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".

It's not a sign of weakness to take steps that promote mental and physical health, even when others don't seem to need to do so. Public Health statements refer to our society as pathogenic: urbanization, stress, individualism leading to loneliness, lack of access to green environment and social support on a large systemic scale mean that many people are made ill- many people struggle. Social media is extra-shiny, because the reality often isn't. In resilience research, there is a metaphor of the 'dandelion' and 'orchid'. Dandelions seem to thrive anywhere. Orchids are more sensitive and either thrive gloriously or wilt under the right conditions. 

Public Health documents actually refer to this situation as an 'obesogenic' society, and to the physical and mental health results as a population 'crisis'. It causes a serious levels of illness care ('health care') costs, as well as lower population productivity which is another economic concern. When you know you need to be healthier, you don't think about these macro-economic problems. You're trying to live. You want to thrive. You have people and goals you care about.

We can't individually change the socially and materially toxic environment that we have created, but we can all do something to make the world around us more supportive of health. Mental Health First Aid is a good step. So is making time for health-fostering recreation for yourself, and encouraging others to do so. As a sport coach and researcher working on resilience and mental wellbeing in connection with sport, I notice that society forgets about the therapeutic importance of physical recreation in practice.

Most people are aware there is a connection. However, most still approach physical recreation as a kind of consumer entertainment choice- a luxury you can allow yourself after you accomplish the long list of duties and responsibilities to your loved ones and workplace. Actually, recreation that is therapeutic is one of the lowest cost ways to manage your physical and mental health. Studies show physical activity as being effective for mild to moderate depression, to almost the same degree as medication.

Mental illness isn't always a life-time condition. While medical management is necessary for some (just like insulin for diabetics), the majority of people experience challenges to mental health more like an illness that sets you back, but isn't chronic: like bronchitis. Or, it can be like something that is chronic (like diabetes) and just needs to be managed. Everyone, no matter how strong, has set-backs, challenges and systems for coping with the uphill climb/obstacle race of life.

It is perfectly normal to take steps to restore health, and to structure a lifestyle that supports resilience. Science today shows that your mind is not stuck: new brain cells and new connections can be formed even later in life, which means that there is always hope.

Also, we now understand that the connection between your mind and body is a two-way connection. How you think changes how you move, live, experience life. How you move can also change how you think, feel and process. Moving your body improves brain cell growth and fosters new connections. Therapeutic recreation is an important contributor to resilience-boosting lifestyle, and mental and physical health promotion.

This holiday season, be aware of mental health needs in yourself and others. Take time to listen, to move your body, to get out in nature. And, if you can, sign up for Mental Health First Aid or at least visit their website to prepare yourself for the inevitable moments when you or someone you are talking to, will need support to dial down the stress.

(c) Heather Sansom (www.heathersansom.ca ) is completing her doctoral research in psycho-social and emotional development through nature based physical recreation through the University of Guelph. (more info about her 4-H Resilience Research Study). She supports mental and physical health through her recreation therapy (www.moveyourmind.ca ), life coaching (www.moveforwardnow.ca ) and sport coaching (www.equifitt.com ) activities.