An international training program on how to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance abuse is coming to Greater Lafayette. Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County is offering the certification classes beginning this month. One focuses on issues in adults and the other covers youth.
MHA Tippecanoe County chapter CEO Jennifer Flora says the certification program began in Australia and is in more than a dozen other countries.
"It is very much an outcome-based program with established outcomes that are truly making a difference in communities throughout the world," she says. "And it's something that absolutely fits with our mission, which is achieving better mental health in Tippecanoe County."
The four, three-hour sessions also teach a five-step action plan to help individuals in crisis.
Linda Rohrman is a board member of the local MHA chapter and a volunteer. She says going through the training helped her understand new things related to mental health and substance abuse.
"And how to recognize them and how to really be empathetic with someone. I just don't think we do that enough. This was really an eye opener to me."
More information about Mental Health First Aid USA is HERE.