Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare Hosts Free Mental Health First Aid Certification Course

PALM COAST, Fla. - Dec. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare is pleased to announce a free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification course for Flagler County residents on Friday, January 9, 2015 from 8am to 5pm at the Flagler County Government Services Building.

The course will be instructed by  Sini Summerlin, CIT coordinator/MHFA instructor of SMABH who will  teach a five-step action plan to offer initial help to people with signs and symptoms of a mental illness or who are in crisis, and learn to connect them the appropriate professional, peer, social or self help care.

“You are more likely to come in contact with a person who is experiencing a mental illness than a person suffering from a heart attack,” stated Summerlin. “The best first aid is most likely your first response,” added Summerlin.

Traditional first aid such as a bandage, CPR, Heimlich or calling 911 is not applicable in a mental health situation. Any persons such as first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens are encouraged and eligible to take the free eight-hour Mental Health First Aid course.

Due to a grant awarded to Flagler County, this class is only available to residents living and working in Flagler County.  Seating is limited and registration is required. The Flagler County Government Services Building is located at 1769 E. Moody Blvd. in Bunnell and the class will be held in Building 2, 3rd Floor, Room 3. To register, follow this link: https://docs.google.com/a/marketing2go.biz/spreadsheet/viewform?usp=drive_web&formkey=dHUwT296TGlWN1p5bWI3YUdEOEZRNmc6MA#gid=0

For more information or to participate in a Mental Health First Aid training in Flagler County, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.smabehavioral.org or email Sini Summerlin, MHFA contact at mhfa.volusiaflagler@hotmail.com, or call (386) 236-1809.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare has been serving the northeast Florida community with mental health and drug treatment services for over 50 years. They operate 35 mental health and substance abuse programs, providing prevention, diversion, intervention, and treatment services, delivered to a diverse client population in a 4-county region (Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia). SMA’s St. Johns clinic provides outpatient mental health and addictions services to more than 1,000 residents annually.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare’s mission is to deliver exceptional and comprehensive behavioral healthcare to individuals and families in our community. Their vision is of a community where addiction and mental illness are treated promptly, comprehensively and with respect for all. They can be reached 800-539-4228  or online at http://www.smabehavioral.org or stay connected with them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SMABehavioralHealthServices

Mental Health First Aid originated in 2001 in Australia under the direction of founders Betty Kitchener and Tony Jorm. To date, it has been replicated in twenty other countries worldwide, including Hong Kong, Scotland, England, Canada, Finland, and Singapore.