Background
The Standard Mental Health First Aid course
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Assess the risk of suicide or harm
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Listen non-judgmentally
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Give reassurance and information
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Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help
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Encourage self-help strategies
The Youth Mental Health First Aid course
YMHFA Instructor training and program dissemination
YMHFA Program evaluation
Methods
Uncontrolled trial
Participants
Measures
Ethics
Statistical analysis
Data on program dissemination
Results
Uncontrolled trial
Participant characteristics and retention
Results of outcomes assessed
Knowledge of mental illnesses
Recognition of mental illnesses
Confidence in providing MHFA
First aid intentions: knowledge of mental health first aid action plan
Stigmatising attitudes about mental health problems
Percentage 'disagree'/'strongly disagree' | ||||
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n | Pre-training % | Post-training % | p-value | |
People with problems like Jenny could snap out of it if they wanted to | 218 | 88.1 | 94.5 | 0.007 |
A problem like Jenny's is a sign of personal weakness. | 219 | 94.1 | 98.2 | 0.026 |
Jenny's problem is not a real medical illness. | 219 | 90.9 | 95.0 | 0.108 |
People with a problem like Jenny's are dangerous. | 218 | 65.1 | 75.7 | 0.004 |
It is best to avoid people with a problem like Jenny's so that you don't develop this problem. | 219 | 99.1 | 99.5 | 1.0 |
People with a problem like Jenny's are unpredictable. | 219 | 35.2 | 52.1 | <0.001 |
If I had a problem like Jenny's, I would not tell anyone. | 218 | 72.9 | 78.4 | 0.119 |
Percentage 'disagree'/'strongly disagree' | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
n | Pre-training % | Post-training % | p-value | |
People with problems like John could snap out of it if they wanted to | 221 | 94.6 | 97.3 | 0.07 |
A problem like John's is a sign of personal weakness. | 220 | 95.0 | 98.6 | 0.022 |
John's problem is not a real medical illness. | 220 | 93.2 | 95.9 | 0.146 |
People with a problem like John's are dangerous. | 221 | 37.6 | 49.8 | 0.005 |
It is best to avoid people with a problem like John's so that you don't develop this problem. | 220 | 96.4 | 98.6 | 0.18 |
People with a problem like John's are unpredictable. | 221 | 20.4 | 33.0 | <0.001 |
If I had a problem like John's, I would not tell anyone. | 221 | 58.4 | 68.8 | 0.0052 |
Mental Health First Aid actions taken
Pre-training (n = 99) | 6-months (n = 99) | p-value | |
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Strategies employed (frequency ≥ 'Once'):
| |||
Spent time listening to their problem | 91.9% | 99% | 0.016 |
Helped to calm them down | 66.7% | 66.7% | -* |
Talked to them about suicidal thoughts | 46.5% | 54.6% | 0.169 |
Recommended they seek professional help | 72.7% | 87.9% | 0.003 |
Recommended self-help strategies | 45.5% | 68.7% | <0.001 |
Gave them information about their problem | 19.2% | 45.5% | < 0.001 |
Gave them information about local services | 44.4% | 63.6% | 0.002 |
Made an appointment for them with services | 31.3% | 37.4% | 0.327 |
Referred them to books or websites about their problem | 20.2% | 32.3% | 0.043 |
Program dissemination
Discussion
Results of the trials
Ongoing improvements to Youth Mental Health First Aid
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Approach, assess and assist with any crisis
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Listen non-judgmentally
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Give support and information
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Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help
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Encourage other supports