Mental Health First Aid: Its relevance for disability professionals, people with disability and their families.

Presenters Carmen Franke, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and Jasper Cleland (Disability Advocacy and Community Education).

About the presenters:

Carmen Franke is passionate about health and well-being and has been a Mental Health First Aid instructor for the last 6 years. She is keen to raise awareness, and increase knowledge and confidence to address people's mental health.

Jasper Cleland is passionate about disability advocacy and community education. He is deafblind and has lived experience of mental illness; Jasper is a dedicated volunteer with the local deafblind community.

About the presentation:

Mental health problems are common. In Australia, approximately one in five adults will experience mental illness in any given year. Therefore mental illness affects all of us. Lack of knowledge and stigmatising attitudes about mental illness may prevent people from seeking help early or to seek the best sort of help.

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is evidence-based and has been developed with input of mental health professionals, researchers and consumers advocates. The course teaches how to provide initial support to adults who are developing Depression, Anxiety problems, Psychosis or Substance use problems. It also provides guidelines for supporting people developing a mental health crisis.

People with a disability face additional challenges and are more likely to develop mental health problems. Therefore it is important that we are sensitive to mental health issues and support them to seek appropriate professional help.

This presentation will discuss the importance and content of the Mental Health First Aid course for everyone: disability workers, people with a disability and their families or carers.

This presentation will be recorded and made available on the DEAI website's Members Area.

Nibbles and networking from 8.00pm.