World Federation for Mental Health advocates “Mental Health First Aid”

World Mental Health day, held annually on 10 October, is a yearly event raising awareness of Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing.

Mental Health “first aid” for all is a core element of this year’s event theme. It is a program that is designed to facilitate the delivery of basic practical psychological support to someone in distress or experiencing a personal crisis by individuals who may be called upon to offer help.

This first aid covers both psychological and social support which can be provided not just by trained professionals but by anyone who may be in a position to offer support to someone in need - a teacher, community worker, police officer, paramedic or perhaps a counsellor employed by large firms to help support staff.

“Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is working tirelessly to increase awareness and knowledge of mental health and illness and supports initiatives that help to build a general understanding of mental health conditions and care options,” said Professor Peter Woodruff, Chair and Medical Director of HMC’s Mental Health Service.

“Similar to learning the basics of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to provide first aid to someone having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid can be an important technique helping the public to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of mental illness including knowing when to refer them to Mental Health Services. We urge anyone interested in this field to learn more about mental health conditions”.

“Psychological first aid is not a substitute for treatment and psychological problems and mental illnesses are very complex and not obvious to the untrained eye so people should not delay in seeking specialist care. The sooner someone is seen and treated the sooner they can recover. Delays to such treatment tend to reduce the overall outcome, so people should not delay seeking professional help,” added Prof. Woodruff.

Psychological first aid needs to be part of comprehensive approach to ensure that anyone experiencing acute distress due to a crisis is able to receive basic support. This crisis may be as a result of a physical trauma or the loss of a loved one or any other reason that results in a person unable to cope with the stress caused by the traumatic event. In this case they will need more than psychological first aid and should receive additional advanced care

Dr. Suhaila Ghuloum, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at HMC’s Mental Health Service explained that there is a growing realization in healthcare sectors around the world that a better understanding of mental health among other staff outside the mental health field, results in better care for patients: “At HMC we are working closely with partners to promote mental health champions that will provide valuable support to patients.

“The skills included in Mental Health First Aid training are valuable for all healthcare professionals who may be called upon to assess the mental health condition of a patient who sought help for some other reason. Mental health is integral to a person’s overall health and often signs of stress, such as chronic fatigue, restlessness, sleeplessness, pain, can indicate underlying mental health problems that need to be treated in order to manage the overall symptoms,” added Dr. Ghuloum.

HMC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Maudsley International, is holding a series of interdisciplinary workshops between 9 October and 24 November 2016.

The workshops are designed to enhance the mental health screening and intervention abilities of clinical staff. Participants will gain advanced skills and knowledge, preparing them to function as a resource for others in their clinical area. The training will cover attitudes toward mental health and information on common mental illnesses and their treatments. Through role play and simulation, participants will develop competencies in screening for common mental health problems.

The workshops are an important part of the Qatar National Mental Health Strategy, which aims to reduce the mental health treatment gap and ensure people who will benefit from mental health services access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

HMC’s Mental Health Service is working closely with communities in Qatar as well as local and international partners to encourage more awareness and understanding of the misconceptions, challenges and opportunities for professional care that exist here for people with mental health conditions.