Reading Police and Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support Partner to Offer Mental Health First Aid Training

Reading, MA — Police Chief David Clark and Director Erica McNamara are pleased to report that, in response to the nation’s mental health crisis, the Reading Police Department and the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support will partner to offer Mental Health First Aid courses to the Reading community this fall.

This groundbreaking, skills-based course teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health or substance misuse challenges.

Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a crisis until professional assistance is obtained or the crisis is resolved.

One in five Americans has experienced a mental health challenge, but many are reluctant to seek help or don’t know where to turn for care. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges can be difficult to see. Friends and family members may find it hard to know when and how to step in. As a result, those in need of mental health services may not receive care until it is too late.

According to Chief Clark, programs like Mental Health First Aid are important for the community.

“As many of our residents know, first responders are increasingly called on to address mental health crises,” said Chief Clark. “Mental Health First Aid is breaking down barriers and stigma so that together we can learn how to better support one another and intervene before the crisis stage.”

Mental Health First Aid students learn a five-step Action Plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support. The Reading Coalition has credentialed instructors that will be offering three courses this fall at the Reading Public Library. Since the coalition began teaching Mental Health First Aid in Reading in 2014, more than 1,000 adults and teens have been certified as first aiders.

The three Mental Health First Aid courses that will be offered are:

MHFA for Older Adults
Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults is for those who want to support seniors ages 60+. The course will teach you how to apply the MHFA Action Plan including: Assess for risk of suicide or harm, listen nonjudgmentally, give reassurance and information, encourage appropriate professional help and encourage self-help and other support strategies. The instructor, Taunya L. Jarzyniecki, is credentialed through the National Council on Mental Wellbeing for Mental Health First Aid USA. Join us for all four sessions to become certified as a first aider on Sept. 5, 14, 21 and 28 from 4-6 p.m. at the Reading Public Library. Register at https://conta.cc/3OGRBRu.

MHFA for Adults
Mental Health First Aid for adults is skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance misuse challenge. First aiders learn an action plan to recognize warning signs of a mental health or substance use challenge, provide help in crisis and non-crisis situations and understand where to turn for additional assistance. The course will be taught by Taunya L. Jarzyniecki, Credentialed Instructor, National Council on Mental Wellbeing. Participants must attend all four sessions on Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 6-8 p.m. at Reading Public Library to become certified as a first aider. Register at https://conta.cc/45cNuCs.

Youth MHFA for Adults Supporting Youth
Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance misuse challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. The course will teach you how to apply the MHFA Action Plan including: Assess for risk of suicide or harm, Listen nonjudgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help and Encourage self-help and other support strategies. The instructors, Erica McNamara & Krystal Mellonakos-Garay, are credentialed through the National Council on Mental Wellbeing for Mental Health First Aid USA. Join us for all four sessions to become certified as a first aider on Nov. 9, 16 and 30 from 6-8 p.m. and Dec. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the Reading Public Library. Register at https://conta.cc/3DKbCQQ.

About The Reading Coalition
The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support, formerly known as RCASA, was established in 2006 in Reading. The coalition started as a town, police, school, and community initiative focused on improving collaboration and reducing substance misuse. Today the coalition, funded under the Reading Police Department, offers programs and services that focus on substance misuse prevention and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. Visit the Coalition at https://www.readingma.gov/763/Reading-Coalition-for-Prevention-and-Sup. Follow the Coalition on Instagram, like it on Facebook, and follow it on Twitter.

About Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
MHFA is an evidence-based training program administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches individuals how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. More than three million people across the United States have been trained in MHFA by thousands of dedicated instructors. For more information, visit: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/.