What is mental health? It’s like health it’s on a continuum You can  have good health or poor health You can have an illness and it can be managed and have good health     What are some of the barriers to help-seeking? Help-seeking is low across all ages,  Young people are less likely to seek help Low levels of stigma towards others but higher self-stigma, feelings of I can deal with it myself.    It’s hard to know what are normal changes, this can be tricky for people to recognise. Changes during adolescence Changes in  focus and mood Physical changes over time Body Behaviour   Like any other sickness, mental health problems result in missed days, work left undone and wasted opportunities.    What are some of the additional impacts of not getting treatment early? Educational outcomes getting the grades they want at school that they are capable of Impacts the study they may like to do later on Impacts on physical development  Social development  Making friends  Relationships  Withdrawn    Loneliness can be a factor, as you withdraw due to work mental health, you may feel more and more lonely and find it more difficult to reach out.  The MHFA course discusses some of the potential red flags/ things to look out for when someone may be struggling with their mental health, strategies for managing the initial support of friends, family and colleagues safely, and information on obtaining immediate assistance if necessary. Can you talk a little bit about what somebody walking out of the standard and youth 14 hour class is really trained or educated to do specifically? What’s it not Doesn’t teach counselling skills Doesn’t teach you to diagnose    It gives you some education around the clusters of symptoms you may notice and helps you potentially identify if someone is in crisis.    ‘’If you’ve seen major changes (negative changes) in someone’s feelings, thinking and behaviour.If it appears to be having an impact on their ability to function, enjoy relationships study etc and it’s lasted more than a couple of weeks they need help. ‘’    Often people are scared they’ll make things worse or being nosey.It’s ok to have these conversations, Mental Health First Aid, helps you have a plan in place and connect with someone. It’s different to being a professional on the treatment side of things     Tips for doing the course   Everyone should attend a mental health first aid course Just like everyone should attend a physical first aid course.  It’s a different set of skills than what’s delivered in the curriculum, so consider doing a course. If you have an interest in mental health, then consider becoming an instructor.  https://insidesocialwork.com/episode7/   To find out more about mental health first aid check out the MHFA website https://mhfa.com.au Resources: https://www.samhsa.gov/programs   https://mhfa.com.au/courses https://mhfa.com.au/mental-health-first-aid-guidelines     Join Marie and become a Youth Mental Health First Aider EALRY BIRD—— before the 31st October promo code PinkFlamenco2021  https://thetherapyhub.com.au/online-youth-mental-health-first-aid/    Join the Inside Social Work Facebook Group Join the Inside Social Work Podcast mailing list to get your free social work career guide Visit the website for the latest info and show notes