Michigan Brings Mental Health First Aid Trainings to Communities

Contact: Angela Minicuci (517) 241-2112

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2014

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is joining with Governor
Rick Snyder and local Mental Health First Aid trainers to celebrate Michigan Mental Health First Aid
week May 18-26, to raise awareness about the trainings available to residents to help identify,
understand and respond to signs of mental illness. Across Michigan, several nationally certified
instructors and agencies will conduct 50 trainings during Michigan Mental Health First Aid Week and
train between 1,000 and 1,500 members of the public.
With the guidance of Governor Snyder and Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, Michigan has taken
some important recent steps to improve mental health services in our communities, said James K.
Haveman, Director of the MDCH. Of special note are the Mental Health First Aid trainings that are
being increased within our communities.
Mental Health First Aid is a 8-hour training certification course which teaches participants a five-step
action plan to assess a situation, select and implement interventions and secure appropriate care for
the individual, the certification program introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of
mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common
treatments. Thorough evaluations in randomized controlled trials and a quantitative study have
proved the CPR-like program effective in improving trainees knowledge of mental disorders,
reducing stigma and increasing the amount of help provided to others.
The MDCH, in collaboration with community organizations throughout the state, are working to
ensure Mental Health First Aid training is made available to residents throughout Michigan
communities. Currently, Mental Health First Aid trainings are being conducted free of charge for
those who work or reside within Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Kent,
Macomb, Muskegon, Oakland, and Wayne counties. Residents of other counties may take the
training for a fee.
Mental Health First Aid originated in 2001 in Australia under the direction of founders Betty Kitchener
and Tony Jorm. To date, it has been replicated in twenty other countries worldwide, including Hong
Kong, Scotland, England, Canada, Finland, and Singapore.
For more information or to find a Mental Health First Aid training in your area,
visitwww.michigan.gov/mentalhealthfirstaid.
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