By Chamber of Commerce

Mental Health First Aid Back in Prince Albert by Popular Demand!

Mar 17, 2017 | 7:57 AM

Bridges Health Working Well: Mental Health First Aid Back in Prince Albert by Popular Demand!
In a recent major Canadian study, 82% of responding organizations ranked mental health conditions in their top three causes of short term disability (72% for long-term). 30% of all short and long term disability claims are due to mental health problems and illnesses. The average responding organization reported spending more than $10.5 million annually on absence claims. In 2011, lost productivity due to absenteeism and presenteeism (present but less than fully productive at work) due to mental health problems and illnesses was approximately $6 Billion.
 
Why Mental Health First Aid?
Colleagues and managers are best placed to be the first to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in their co-workers, provided they are properly trained in Mental Health First Aid. The next Mental Health First Aid workshop in Prince Albert happens April 3-4.

• When: April 3 & 4, 2017
• 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
• Where: Prince Albert Inn
• Fee: $185 investment (which includes your lunch for both days!)
• www.bridgeshealth.com
• Contact:  Ashley Breland 306.657.2470 or ashley@bridgeshealth.com 

MHFA-trained employees will help equip your organization to:
§  Recognize and understand the symptoms of mental health problems, including those related to substance abuse
§  Provide help to prevent the mental health problem from developing into a more serious state 
§  Promote the recovery of good mental health by accommodating employees in distress or recovering from a crisis 
§  Increase productivity and reduce absenteeism and overall pressure on benefits

Evidence has shown that individuals who complete the 12-hour basic course have:
§  Significantly greater recognition of the most common mental health illnesses and problems
§  Decreased social distance from people with mental health illnesses or problems
§  Increased confidence in providing help to others 
§  Demonstrated increase in helpful actions
Contact Ashley Breland 306.657.2470 or ashley@bridgeshealth.com to register and learn more.  

Personal Testimonial
As I mentioned during the introductions at your course, I am an old school guy that was attending your class with a fair bit of skepticism. The class changed my outlook and today I had to put to use some of the learned skills. Today I had a meeting with one of our long time employees around absenteeism and his alcohol/ prescription drug abuse. Before I had time to use ALGEE our employee disclosed that he had feelings that “he couldn’t go on” and thoughts of “just ending it”.

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Though I went into this meeting prepared for the “LGEE” I wasn’t ready for the emotional impact of “A”. I was able to determine that the danger was not imminent. I asked if he had someone to talk to and he does. I urged him to seek help from his physician and gave him the number for our EFAP. I will continue to follow up with him.

Probably the toughest conversation I have had in my thirty years of managing people. Thankfully the MHFA Course gave me some tools to deal with the situation.