MENTAL  HEALTH  FIRST  AID  TRAINING

Saturday, January 12, 2019

9 am to 5 pm

Hosted by Spencer, Grace UMC  (311 2nd Ave W, Spencer, Iowa 51301) 

Register by January 7, 2019

Trainings are open to anyone who is called to learn more about mental illness and substance use/abuse.  Medical “First Aid” is well-known by most people. But when faced with a person experiencing a mental health malady, it can be over-whelming because we’ve not, as a culture, given credence to the debilitating effects of mental illness.  We can do better caring if we take some time to become more prepared and understanding.  Consider these statements from Mental Health America:

• Over 44 million American adults have a mental health condition. Since 2015 there has been only a slight decrease in the number of adults who have a mental health condition, from 18.19% to 18.07%.
• Rate of youth experiencing a mental health condition continues to rise. 2015 to 2018, the rate of youth with Major Depressive Episode (MDE) increased from 11.93% to 12.63%. Data showed that 62% of youth with MDE received no treatment.
• More Americans are insured and accessing care. We can continue to see the effects of healthcare reform on the rate of Adults who are uninsured. This year there was a 2.5% reduction in the number of Adults with a mental health condition who were uninsured.  
• ...But many Americans experiencing a mental health condition still report having an unmet need. 1 in 5, or 9 million adults, reported having an unmet need.
• Mental health workforce shortage remains. 

 It is also a truth that the Christian community is mostly ignoring the spiritual needs of those with mental health considerations. Is it possible that if and as we de-mystify mental health that we will become more confident and willing to design ministries that effectively provide hope and healing?

Mental Health First Aid could be a relatively easy and accessible first step.  The class is limited to the first 25 people.  Register as soon as possible!!

Lunch will be a free will offering to the church for providing lunch, snacks and beverages