Mental Health First Aider: Amie Ledger

Everybody has mental health, just as everybody has physical health, and the role of a Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider) is the non-professional support offered to a person developing poor mental health, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health condition or in a mental health crisis. This can include in a work, home, or community setting.

The aims of MHFAider are to:

1. Preserve life where a person may be at risk of harm to themselves or others

2. Provide help to prevent poor mental health from becoming more serious

3. Promote recovery from poor mental health

4. Provide comfort to a person with poor mental health.

The MHFA course teaches how to spot the early signs of poor mental health, including warning signs of common mental health crises, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to encourage a person to seek appropriate professional treatment and other sources of support.

The wider aims of MHFA are to:

1. Raise awareness of mental health in the community

2. Reduce stigma and discrimination

The MHFA course does not teach people to provide a diagnosis or therapy. If you ever want to talk, please do get in touch. x