Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid teaches you to recognize and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. It equips you with skills to offer initial support to someone in need. MHFA is administered through an educational course to best equip the employee for their specific workplace type and setting.
While many know how to react to a physical emergency like a heart attack, few know how to handle a panic attack or signs of substance use. This training removes the fear of starting conversations about mental health by providing an action plan for safe, responsible intervention.
By learning these skills, more people can connect those facing mental health challenges with the help they need.
Why We Train Our Employees
We train our OSSPT physical therapists because we believe mental health is as important as physical health, and often, they are interconnected. Injury and pain can significantly impact our mental health in many unseen ways.
This is why we train our physical therapists. By intervening early and creating a comfortable environment for our clients, we provide a space to address not only physical aches and pains but also internal struggles. As a company dedicated to creating the best solutions for our clients, prioritizing mental health is always a top priority.
Pain not only hurts but can also prevent us from engaging in activities we love. When it becomes difficult to go about our days and enjoy our favorite activities, our mental health suffers. If left untreated, we may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as opioid or other drug use, to alleviate both physical and mental pain.
MHFA Fast Facts
- One in five American adults experience a mental health disorder in a single year.
- Almost half of all American adults will experience a mental illness during the course of their lifetime.
- More than 20 million Americans ages 12 and older will face an addiction.
- Mental health conditions, like depression, increase the chance of developing physical issues, and vice-versa.
- About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
Resources
CDC Mental Health Facts
https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
Mental Health Myths and Facts
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/myths-and-facts
Study on Mental Health and Injury
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5504249
Get MHFA Certified!
