Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being that can often be misunderstood or overlooked. To increase awareness about mental health and highlight supportive resources, Balanced You has partnered with the National Council of Behavioral Health to offer Mental Health First Aid@Work trainings. These trainings are available to all County employees, free-of-charge.
As we transition our county’s pandemic response into the autumn and prepare for the mental health crisis that experts warn is ahead, Balanced You urges employees to consider participating in the Mental Health First Aid@Work training so we can all better support each other.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Like CPR and physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid@Work trainings teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues. Participants will learn the common risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder. The program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like, “What do I do?” and, “Where can someone find help?”
What will I learn?
You will learn how to support an individual who may be experiencing mental illness and connect them to available resources internal and external of the workplace. You will not learn to diagnose, or how to provide any therapy or counseling. Rather, you will have an opportunity increase awareness and practice skills including empathetic listening and assessing for risk.
Each Mental Health First Aid training will be offered in two two-hour interactive parts focused on:
- Increasing awareness about mental health while reducing misunderstandings and myths.
- Recognizing the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
- Practicing Mental Health First Aid exercises including assessing for risk and non-judgmental listening.
- Using a five-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate help.
Use the below links to sign up for Parts 1 and 2 of each training. Be sure to sign up for both. Each participant will then receive virtual training materials and a pre- and post-survey to complete.
Upcoming Mental Health First Aid@Work trainings
| Training | Date/Time |
| 1 | Part 1: Monday, October 12, 7-9am Part 2: Monday, October 12, 10am-12pm |
| 2 | Part 1: Thursday, October 15, 1-3pm Part 2: Thursday, October 15, 4-6pm |
| 3 | Part 1: Wednesday, October 21, 6-8pm Part 2: Thursday, October 22, 6-8pm |
| 4 | Part 1: Tuesday, October 27, 7-9am Part 2: Tuesday, October 27, 10am-12pm |
| 5 | Part 1: Monday, November 2, 3-5pm Part 2: Tuesday, November 3, 3-5pm |
| Cancelled | Friday, November 6, 7-9am Friday, November 6, 10am-12pm |
| Cancelled | Tuesday, November 10, 8-10am Tuesday, November 10, 11am-1pm |
| 8 | Part 1: Monday, November 16, 1-3pm Part 2: Monday, November 16, 4-6pm |
| 9 | Part 1: Wednesday, November 18, 6-8pm Part 2: Thursday, November 19, 6-8pm |
| FULL | Part 1: Tuesday, December 1, 8-10am Part 2: Tuesday, December 1, 11am-1pm |
| FULL | Part 1: Wednesday, December 9, 7-9pm Part 2: Thursday, December 10, 7-9pm |
| FULL | Part 1: Monday, December 14, 9-11am Part 2: Monday, December 14, 12-2pm |
| FULL | Part 1: Friday, December 18, 10am-12pm Part 2: Friday, December 18, 1-3pm |
Contact Balanced You with any questions or feedback at balancedyou@kingcounty.gov. We look forward to continuing the conversation.
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