Building capacity to deliver mental health first aid training

Building capacity to deliver mental health first aid training

One person in five will experience a mental health

Waypoint's newest mental health first aid trainers Kaylee Heath and Janna Sharp

Waypoint's newest MHFA
trainers Kaylee Health
and Janna Sharp

problem this year. It can strike anyone at any time, but we don’t always know what to say or do if we encounter someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a great place to start. The need and desire for people to learn how to manage a mental health crisis has been growing steadily over the last few years and mental health can be life -saving. Waypoint recognized this need and added two new trainers, increasing our capacity and ability to offer the program to more people.

Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing the worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Just like physical first aid is provided until medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate support is found or until the crisis is resolved.

The program prepares participants to talk confidently about mental health with their family, friends, communities and workplaces. Participants also become more aware of signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems and develop a better understanding. This comfortability leads to a reduction in stigma - bridging the social distance between participants and those experiencing a mental health problem.

Waypoint has been offering this training to staff and community members for over four years, supported by fundraising dollars - and with your help, we can do even more.

Waypoint needs to raise $25,000 this year for the Mental Health First Aid Program. To donate or get more information about the program, please contact Christine Baguley at [email protected] or 705-549-3181, ext. 2578.

Weber Manufacturing donates to Mental Health First Aid

Kelly Rever & Chris Edwards from Weber Manufacturing stopped by Waypoint with a $2,500 donation for
Mental Health First Aid - Pictured with Waypoint's Carol Lambie & Nicole Mace
Thank you for getting us closer to our $25,000 goal