Similar to ‘First Aid’ and ‘CPR,’ ‘Mental Health First Aid’ is designed to arm the public with skills to help individuals who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aid is a non-clinical, public education experience offered as an interactive 8-hour certification course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use issues in the U.S.

The course addresses the fear and stigma associated with mental illness and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common treatments. Those who take the course to certify as Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social and self-help care.

The clinics are sponsored by the Trust Training Cooperative. Upcoming clinics include:

• July 8 in Barrow at City of Barrow Chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• August 7 in Anchorage at BP Energy Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• August 13-14 in Juneau at UAS Campus Eagan Room from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days

Register online at http://ttclms.org/class_detail.php?z_classid=106339.

For more information contact Jill Ramsey at (907) 264-6228 or jill@alaskachd.org.