Feedback from American participants of a Mental Health First Aid training course. Issue 2 (15th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ploper, Viviana; Jones, Rise; Kraus, Dana J; Schmidt, Annie; Corrigan, Patrick
• Is Part Of: Journal of public mental health. Volume 14:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2015-06-15
• Subjects: Mental health promotion -- Periodicals; 362.2
• DOI: 10.1108/JPMH-04-2014-0016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-5729

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a course meant to train participants in how to identify and respond to signs of mental disorders and crises. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a qualitative study of MHFA participants to get a sense of some values and challenges associated with the training. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – Results from an online survey of 143 participants yielded 24 discrete themes. Survey responses were gathered into a single data set and coded by two independent raters. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – Themes were sorted into four categories: MHFA benefits, training limitations, challenges to MHFA, and resources that facilitate MHFA. Several benefits emerged, consistent with findings from Australian studies. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitations/implications</title> <p> – Findings represent a sample of people who completed the program in Chicago; research needs to determine how perceived benefits and limitations vary by geographic area. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – Findings echoed many of the benefits found in studies conducted outside the USA and can be used to further improve MHFA training as it expands in the US market.</p> </sec> </abstract>