BY ANDREW CHUN, MD, MPH
Dr. Andrew Chun
The ongoing mental health crisis in the United States has been well-documented. Severe shortages of mental health clinicians have limited
access to care for millions of Americans, as more than 50 percent of counties do not have a practicing psychiatrist.
However, early recognition of and intervention for mental health problems can ultimately save lives. One responsibility of the MMS Committee on Mental Health
and Substance Use is to provide resources on mental health and substance use in alignment with the Society’s strategic initiative to “[a]ssess vulnerable populations and determine where the MMS can have the strongest impact on access to appropriate
care. …”
One way to prepare community members to recognize and respond to signs of a mental health problem or substance use disorder is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), an eight-hour training course that
is available through instructors certified as a First Aider in the MHFA adult and/or youth curriculum. In this evidence-based program managed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, trainees
learn about different types of mental illnesses, including depression, psychosis, and substance use, and acquire skills to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. MHFA training uses role play and simulations to help its trainees
recognize mental health symptoms, provide initial support, and calmly guide a person toward appropriate professional resources. Health professionals unfamiliar with this content, as well as support staff, first responders, and other community
members, may benefit from this skill set.
A systematic review of the effectiveness of MHFA found trainees had improved knowledge and recognition of mental health disorders, along with greater confidence
and likelihood to assist an individual with mental health problems. A smaller study found that MHFA may help address stigma and improve mental
health literacy in underserved, immigrant communities, which often experience higher barriers to accessing care.
Given the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association have declared a national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health. Youth MHFA provides training specific to supporting adolescents aged 12 to 18. This modified version discusses typical
adolescent development, disruptive behavioral disorders, and eating disorders. Physicians may share this youth course with parents, teachers, and school administrators, who are often the first to notice mental health problems in children and
adolescents.
MHFA training can be arranged through local training providers for both physicians and non-physicians interested in this program, including support staff and community
members.
For more information, see mentalhealthfirstaid.org.
Andrew Chun, MD, MPH, is a resident in the adult psychiatry program at
MGH/McLean Hospital and the resident representative to the MMS Committee
on Mental Health and Substance Use.
