Comments received about the 2 day mental health first aid course. Eliot Dales is a registered learning disabilities nurse and manager of a residential home for disabled young people.
The course was excellent it exceeded my expectations in every way. I came away more confident about the whole MH issue. It was clear that you know the subject really well. It was good to hear you talk about all of the wider issues and therapies that you obviously have an interest in. I could have stayed for another day and am hungry for more info'.
Thanks and well done.
Eliot
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Friday, 29 January 2010
One act of kindness can outweigh a thousand sorrows
I knew of a man that once felt so desperate that he fixed up a noose and stood on a stool, intent on ending his life. Just as he was about to kick the stood from under his feet and end his life, a memory came to him. A memory of when he was a little boy. A memory of his grandmother, he was at the beach, she had gone out of her way to take him there to have fun and from her limited means had bought him a lovely big ice cream. He remembered this; the memory was vivid and real, so much that he could almost taste the ice cream.
At this point he realised that some one really had loved him, that he was worth loving. That he was worth something. He took the noose from his neck and stepped off the stool.
How close was that! How important was that one act of kindness. I wonder if grandma ever knew how important she was.
That man went on to create his own charity for people who feel suicidal, and when I last saw him he was doing fine and had a strong sense of purpose and well-being.
One act of kindness can out weigh a thousand sorrows. Never under estimate the importance of the kind things do you.
At this point he realised that some one really had loved him, that he was worth loving. That he was worth something. He took the noose from his neck and stepped off the stool.
How close was that! How important was that one act of kindness. I wonder if grandma ever knew how important she was.
That man went on to create his own charity for people who feel suicidal, and when I last saw him he was doing fine and had a strong sense of purpose and well-being.
One act of kindness can out weigh a thousand sorrows. Never under estimate the importance of the kind things do you.
ది ఐమ్స్ అఫ్ మెంటల్ హెల్త్ ఫస్ట్ Aid
What are the aims of Mental Health First Aid?
1. To preserve life where someone is a danger to themselves or others.
2. To provide help in order to prevent mental health problems deteriorating into a more serious state.
3. To promote recovery to a state of good mental health.
4. To provide comfort and reassurance to a person experiencing mental health problems.
If you are interested in becoming a mental health first aider. You can get more information about this on the following link.
http://www.mhfa.org.uk/
1. To preserve life where someone is a danger to themselves or others.
2. To provide help in order to prevent mental health problems deteriorating into a more serious state.
3. To promote recovery to a state of good mental health.
4. To provide comfort and reassurance to a person experiencing mental health problems.
If you are interested in becoming a mental health first aider. You can get more information about this on the following link.
http://www.mhfa.org.uk/
Derogatory language
Derogatory language about mental health problems makes it much more difficult for people in distress to talk about it. If we use common derogatory terms like ‘nutter’ or ‘weirdo’ it makes it much harder for some one to ask for help.
Early help is one of the key factors in preventing mental illness; and is one of the aims of mental health first aid.
Since many of the staff in our department have done the mental health first aid course. The issue of mental well-being has been discussed much more frequently and openly
Our staff are more vigilant of people who are showing signs of distress or are going through a period when there are more risk factors than usual. For example exam time and moving house coincide with a relationship break-up. We put in the support in advance and I’m sure have steered our students away from more sever distress and even mental illness.
A quick guide to avoiding inappropriate language when speaking about mental illness or distress.
1. Use adjectives rather than nouns.
Eg adjectives like:- Sad, Lonely, Distressed etc.
rather than nouns like nutter, or loony.
2. Refer to a person first rather than label them
Eg Deb with a diagnosis of depression.
Not Deb the depressive.
Or Bill living with schizophrenia
Not Bill the schizophrenic.
Changing our language can change how we think and then how we communicate and then the support people get and then the end results we see. It’s worth the effort.
Early help is one of the key factors in preventing mental illness; and is one of the aims of mental health first aid.
Since many of the staff in our department have done the mental health first aid course. The issue of mental well-being has been discussed much more frequently and openly
Our staff are more vigilant of people who are showing signs of distress or are going through a period when there are more risk factors than usual. For example exam time and moving house coincide with a relationship break-up. We put in the support in advance and I’m sure have steered our students away from more sever distress and even mental illness.
A quick guide to avoiding inappropriate language when speaking about mental illness or distress.
1. Use adjectives rather than nouns.
Eg adjectives like:- Sad, Lonely, Distressed etc.
rather than nouns like nutter, or loony.
2. Refer to a person first rather than label them
Eg Deb with a diagnosis of depression.
Not Deb the depressive.
Or Bill living with schizophrenia
Not Bill the schizophrenic.
Changing our language can change how we think and then how we communicate and then the support people get and then the end results we see. It’s worth the effort.
Derogatory language
Derogatory language about mental health problems makes it much more difficult for people in distress to talk about it. If we use common derogatory terms like ‘nutter’ or ‘weirdo’ it makes it much harder for some one to ask for help.
Early help is one of the key factors in preventing mental illness; and is one of the aims of mental health first aid.
Since many of the staff in our department have done the mental health first aid course. The issue of mental well-being has been discussed much more frequently and openly
Our staff are more vigilant of people who are showing signs of distress or are going through a period when there are more risk factors than usual. For example exam time and moving house coincide with a relationship break-up. We put in the support in advance and I’m sure have steered our students away from more sever distress and even mental illness.
A quick guide to avoiding inappropriate language when speaking about mental illness or distress.
1. Use adjectives rather than nouns.
Eg adjectives like:- Sad, Lonely, Distressed etc.
rather than nouns like nutter, or loony.
2. Refer to a person first rather than label them
Eg Deb with a diagnosis of depression.
Not Deb the depressive.
Or Bill living with schizophrenia
Not Bill the schizophrenic.
Changing our language can change how we think and then how we communicate and then the support people get and then the end results we see. It’s worth the effort.
Early help is one of the key factors in preventing mental illness; and is one of the aims of mental health first aid.
Since many of the staff in our department have done the mental health first aid course. The issue of mental well-being has been discussed much more frequently and openly
Our staff are more vigilant of people who are showing signs of distress or are going through a period when there are more risk factors than usual. For example exam time and moving house coincide with a relationship break-up. We put in the support in advance and I’m sure have steered our students away from more sever distress and even mental illness.
A quick guide to avoiding inappropriate language when speaking about mental illness or distress.
1. Use adjectives rather than nouns.
Eg adjectives like:- Sad, Lonely, Distressed etc.
rather than nouns like nutter, or loony.
2. Refer to a person first rather than label them
Eg Deb with a diagnosis of depression.
Not Deb the depressive.
Or Bill living with schizophrenia
Not Bill the schizophrenic.
Changing our language can change how we think and then how we communicate and then the support people get and then the end results we see. It’s worth the effort.
Empathy and distress
Understanding how others are feeling can bring great rewards and great influence. Empathy is powerful.
A few years ago I was sitting comfortable in front of the TV with my wife, we lived in a quiet cul-de-sac with only 3 houses, so I was surprised to hear the noise of a lot of people shouting out side my house. It was not angry shouting but it was shouting none the less. I opened my front door surprised to see a crowed of about 40 to 50 people all in a large circle, in the centre were 2 men about 4 meters apart one had a large bread knife raised in front of him the other man was swinging a heavy looking leather jacket around as though he was going to use it as a weapon.
I recognised many of the people in the crowd they all lived in the near by houses. All of them were looking at the man with the knife and were shouting things like ‘just put it down’ or ‘just go back inside’ some others were calling out helpful things like ‘it’s not worth going to prison for’ well they were trying! Some were even calling him by name. His house was behind him he could have turned and walked away. But neither man was moving both were staring straight into the eyes of the other.
I thought what ever had happened between them it was clear to me that neither of them wanted to do anymore. Neither of them was talking or moving forward, they were almost like statues. I could feel that there were so many people there that neither man would back down as this would be like loosing face or pride in front of their whole community. They might be branded as cowardly.
How can I change this? I asked my self, every ones attention was on the man with the knife, I mean every one, well apart form me. I looked at the man with the jacket. No one was talking to him; no one was even looking at him. I thought if these people keep on doing what they are doing nothing would change. So I did something different.
I slowly approached the man with the jacket. Not straight on this might look threatening and he had 2 very big friends behind him, and not from the side as he might not see me and be startled. I approached at a sort of 45-degree angle. I stood by him for a few seconds and then slowly reached out and gently put my hand on his shoulder and quietly, so quiet no one else could hear I said ‘please would you go home now, please’ (a simple, gentle, non threatening request that gave him a reason to leave) half a second passed and I felt his shoulders relax. He turned and walked away. A few seconds later the man with the knife lowered it and then every one in the crowed turned to see what had happened. The other man had gone! I’m not sure if anyone even saw him leave. But certainly they wouldn’t have known why he left. Perhaps he just needed and excuse, or some permission, or even to feel like he was doing some thing good i.e. helping me. What ever it was I often wonder what would have happened if it weren’t for a few calm words in the right ear.
A few years ago I was sitting comfortable in front of the TV with my wife, we lived in a quiet cul-de-sac with only 3 houses, so I was surprised to hear the noise of a lot of people shouting out side my house. It was not angry shouting but it was shouting none the less. I opened my front door surprised to see a crowed of about 40 to 50 people all in a large circle, in the centre were 2 men about 4 meters apart one had a large bread knife raised in front of him the other man was swinging a heavy looking leather jacket around as though he was going to use it as a weapon.
I recognised many of the people in the crowd they all lived in the near by houses. All of them were looking at the man with the knife and were shouting things like ‘just put it down’ or ‘just go back inside’ some others were calling out helpful things like ‘it’s not worth going to prison for’ well they were trying! Some were even calling him by name. His house was behind him he could have turned and walked away. But neither man was moving both were staring straight into the eyes of the other.
I thought what ever had happened between them it was clear to me that neither of them wanted to do anymore. Neither of them was talking or moving forward, they were almost like statues. I could feel that there were so many people there that neither man would back down as this would be like loosing face or pride in front of their whole community. They might be branded as cowardly.
How can I change this? I asked my self, every ones attention was on the man with the knife, I mean every one, well apart form me. I looked at the man with the jacket. No one was talking to him; no one was even looking at him. I thought if these people keep on doing what they are doing nothing would change. So I did something different.
I slowly approached the man with the jacket. Not straight on this might look threatening and he had 2 very big friends behind him, and not from the side as he might not see me and be startled. I approached at a sort of 45-degree angle. I stood by him for a few seconds and then slowly reached out and gently put my hand on his shoulder and quietly, so quiet no one else could hear I said ‘please would you go home now, please’ (a simple, gentle, non threatening request that gave him a reason to leave) half a second passed and I felt his shoulders relax. He turned and walked away. A few seconds later the man with the knife lowered it and then every one in the crowed turned to see what had happened. The other man had gone! I’m not sure if anyone even saw him leave. But certainly they wouldn’t have known why he left. Perhaps he just needed and excuse, or some permission, or even to feel like he was doing some thing good i.e. helping me. What ever it was I often wonder what would have happened if it weren’t for a few calm words in the right ear.
Friday, 15 January 2010
Mental Health First Aid Works
My sincere thanks to all the devoted staff of Treloar's who have contributed to this blog and for their care of others. Mental Health First Aid was long over due our thanks and recognition to Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm.
My thanks also to my co-trainer Helen Goodenough who's good humour and enthusiasm have given me momentum in this work.
My thanks also to my co-trainer Helen Goodenough who's good humour and enthusiasm have given me momentum in this work.
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