Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour workshop that teaches participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The workshop helps identify, understand, and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses.

This workshop will help attendees assist patrons at the library who appear to have a serious psychiatric challenge. When the American Library Association surveyed 1,300 public library supervisors, nine out of ten said that patrons with a mental illness have disturbed or affected the use of the library by other people.

Attendees will be involved with the material and relate what they learn to real-life applications. Discussion topics, exercises, and other activities will keep participants engaged in the course and give them an opportunity to practice new skills.

Certified instructors lead each course and follow a national curriculum and teaching standards, while emphasizing hope for recovery. Classes will consist of 25 people or less.

This workshop teaches participants to help people who may be experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. Attendees will learn:

• To identify risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems.
• To find resources and Information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and addiction disorders.
• To implement a 5-step action plan to help someone developing a mental health problem or in crisis.
• To identify where to turn for help in regard to professional, peer, and self-help resources.

Website: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/

WSL will provide lunch and light refreshments. Because this training is a full 8 hours, there will be a 30 minute lunch break plus two 15 minute breaks.