In Bordeaux, Mental Health First Aid is noteworthy, with no other faculty demonstrating as much engagement
In a university room in Bordeaux, France, a dozen students from various levels and fields are attending a two-day Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training session voluntarily. Led by psychologist Nancy Pascaud, the MHFA training aims to equip individuals with the skills to recognize early signs of mental health problems, provide initial support, and guide those experiencing mental health crises towards appropriate professional help.
One of the students, Sophie, a 23-year-old future speech therapist, signed up for MHFA training after encountering depressed patients during her last internship. Sophie now feels more confident and equipped to support her peers in case of panic attacks or other mental health crises. She can provide initial support and guide them to appropriate professional help.
Sophie is surrounded by women involved in student associations who also took MHFA training to identify and help their suffering peers. The role of these future "mental health first aiders" is not to treat or "save," but to guide, support, and open a space for listening.
The MHFA training session is not limited to students, as it attracts participants from various backgrounds and professions. The students will have 14 hours of training to practice and learn to recognize signs of depression, anxiety, addictions, and suicidal thoughts.
MHFA reflects a parallel with physical first aid: just as physical first aiders respond to physical health crises, MHFA-trained individuals respond to mental health challenges by listening, empathizing, and facilitating access to resources or crisis support. It plays a critical role in workplaces and communities by fostering a culture of openness and support around mental health, improving mental health literacy, boosting confidence in helping others, and contributing to healthier, more inclusive environments.
The training session is focused on learning actions to help in mental distress situations, not physical emergencies like choking, serious injury, or cardiac arrest. The MHFA training is helping participants feel more confident and equipped to support others in mental health crises.
Research supports the effectiveness of MHFA in increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging early intervention, especially in settings like workplaces and for first responders. Sophie believes that mental health first aid is equally important as physical first aid. The MHFA training session complements physical first aid training in the minds of participants.
In conclusion, the MHFA training session in Bordeaux is vital in equipping individuals to respond effectively to mental health crises, improving access to care, and helping create supportive environments that address mental health as a critical component of overall health.
Sophie, a speech therapy student, believes that mental health first aid is as important as physical first aid, having experienced the need for such skills during her internship. Equipped with this training, she feels more confident in supporting her peers during mental health crises, be it panic attacks or depression, and facilitating their access to professional help.
The MHFA training in Bordeaux not only emphasizes understanding mental health issues like depression, anxiety, addictions, and suicidal thoughts, but also promotes openness and support around these topics in workplaces and communities. It equips participants with the skills to listen, empathize, and guide those in need, mirroring the role of physical first aiders in responding to physical health emergencies.
