First Aid Strategies
The five steps in providing Mental Health First Aid are:
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Assess risk of harm to person or others.
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Listen non-judgmentally.
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Give reassurance and information.
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Encourage person to get appropriate professional help if needed.
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Encourage self-help strategies.
How to help someone going through a mental health
crisis:
A mental health crisis may occur when a person may feel
suicidal, a person may be having anxiety attacks, a person may be in an acute
stress reaction or a person may be out of touch with reality in a distressing
psychotic state. Here are some general strategies you can use to help:
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Introduce yourself and explain why you are present.
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Remain courteous and non-threatening, but be honest and direct.
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Listen to the person in a non-judgmental way.
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Avoid confrontation at all costs - be prepared to "agree to differ" with the person's perspective.
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Clarify and address what the person sees as the major issues first (not what you, the helper, see as the major concerns).
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Do not attempt to manhandle the patient, except to prevent serious assault or suicide attempts.
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Encourage / assist person to receive professional mental health help.
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Finally, if the incident was traumatic for you, or you feel anxious or distressed, discuss these issues with a friend or a professional service.