Be a Mental Health Advocate
Today, maintaining mental health is a difficult task. Scrolling through the research, the statistics are grim: in the United States alone, one in five adults live with a mental illness. And the number of youth, ages thirteen to eighteen, who have experienced a debilitation mental illness is even higher (CDC). So why does mental health continue to be stigmatized to this day?
The answer is likely that there are not enough people willing to love, accept, and help those suffering with mental illnesses. To decrease the stigma and lend a helping hand to the many people suffering in our world, you can educate yourself, be an advocate, and support those struggling with mental health issues. By doing so, you’ll make the world a more accepting place.
Mental health first aid training, a course-based program designed to help you support and recognize those struggling with mental illness, can help you accomplish this. The program teaches you to identify the signs of common mental health illnesses and allows you to provide the proper guidance for those experiencing life-threating symptoms—including suicidal thoughts, self-harm, panic attacks, or hallucinations.
The benefits of this training are numerous. You’ll feel empowered to help and support anyone you find in your life struggling with their mental health. By being educated about the subject, you become an active proponent of decreasing stigma. And, by intervening early, you can prevent these challenges from escalating to the point of being a threat to life.
If you are interested in taking a mental health first aid training course, you can find one near you by visiting Mental Health First Aid’s website. If you can’t find one nearby, virtual options are available. The course is suitable for anyone aged 18 or older, regardless of background or profession, and is delivered by certified instructors who often have extensive experience in the field.
Mental health first aid training is not a substitute for professional help, but it can be a powerful tool to be a supporting advocate for such life-threatening and prevalent issues. Mental health difficulties are not meant to be tackled alone. Imagine how many lives could be transformed with your support.
