CU Boulder Mental Health First Aid Training
As you’ve all probably noticed, the season is changing. The weather is getting significantly cooler. We can brush the dust off our coats and hats and admire the vibrant colors of a Boulder autumn. We also know that after Halloween passes, people will begin embracing the holiday spirit by brainstorming Thanksgiving plans and playing Christmas songs (i.e. the early-birds). For many, this is a great time of year; yet, for others, these environmental changes can induce anxiety and depression. Conditions like seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are not uncommon for this time of year, which is why it is important that we practice supporting others. CU Boulder has a fantastic resource for practicing being supportive in given situations, and it’s called Mental Health First Aid training.
According to the webpage, Mental Health First Aid training is a program that “helps a person with no clinical training assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis.” Participants will learn a 5-step strategy to accurately assess and support someone undergoing a mental health crisis. What these steps are, you’ll have to attend to find out! Aside from this, the training includes identifying risk factors and warning signs, engaging in experiential activities, and learning about various treatment and self-help strategies. It is a well designed program for CU Boulder students and is undoubtedly worth attending!
There are normally multiple training sessions available throughout the semester but now–with the semester being half over–there are only two left. The first one is scheduled for Wednesday, November 10 from 11am – 5pm, and it will take place online via Zoom. The second session is slated for Thursday, December 7 from 11am – 5pm, but will be held in-person at UMC 247. If neither of these dates fit within your schedule, you can also request Mental Health First Aid training from various campus departments and student groups.
If you are interested in attending either of these Mental Health First Aid training sessions, please register on the webpage (linked above). Also, please note that either training requires approximately 90 minutes of self-paced pre-work that must be completed prior to the training date. This way, you can come confident and ready to go!
All in all, CU Boulder’s Mental Health First Aid training will be worth your time. It not only teaches participants how to assist those suffering from mental health crises, but also encourages one to be more confident and compassionate in the face of struggling mental health. If you do decide to attend, feel free to let us know how it went and what it did for you!