First Aid Strategies
How to help someone going through a mental health crisis
The Action Plan
Mental Health First Aid teaches a five-step action plan, ALGEE, for individuals to provide help to someone who may be in crisis.
When helping a person going through a mental health crisis, it is important look for signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and/or non-suicidal self-injury.
Some Warning Signs of Suicide Include:
Listening Nonjudgmentally
It may seem simple, but the ability to listen and have a meaningful conversation with an individual requires skill and patience. It is important to make an individual feel respected, accepted, and understood. Mental Health First Aid teaches individuals to use a set of verbal and nonverbal skills to engage in appropriate conversation – such as open body posture, comfortable eye contact and other listening strategies.
Give Reassurance and Information
It is important for individuals to recognize that mental illnesses are real, treatable illnesses from which people can and do recover. When having a conversation with someone whom you believe may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, it is important to approach the conversation with respect and dignity for that individual and to not blame the individual for his or her symptoms.
Mental Health First Aid teaches you helpful information and resources you can offer to someone to provide consistent emotional support and practical help.
Encourage Appropriate Professional Help
There are a variety of mental health and substance use professionals who can offer help when someone is in crisis or may be experiencing the signs of symptoms of a mental illness.
Encourage Self-Help and Other Support Strategies
There are many ways individuals who may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness can contribute to their own recovery and wellness.
These strategies may include:
The Action Plan
Mental Health First Aid teaches a five-step action plan, ALGEE, for individuals to provide help to someone who may be in crisis.
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies
When helping a person going through a mental health crisis, it is important look for signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and/or non-suicidal self-injury.
Some Warning Signs of Suicide Include:
- Threatening to hurt or kill oneself
- Seeking access to means to hurt or kill oneself
- Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide
- Feeling Hopeless
- Acting Recklessly or engaging in risky activities
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Withdrawing from family, friends, or society
- Appearing agitated or angry
- Having a dramatic change in mood
Listening Nonjudgmentally
It may seem simple, but the ability to listen and have a meaningful conversation with an individual requires skill and patience. It is important to make an individual feel respected, accepted, and understood. Mental Health First Aid teaches individuals to use a set of verbal and nonverbal skills to engage in appropriate conversation – such as open body posture, comfortable eye contact and other listening strategies.
Give Reassurance and Information
It is important for individuals to recognize that mental illnesses are real, treatable illnesses from which people can and do recover. When having a conversation with someone whom you believe may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, it is important to approach the conversation with respect and dignity for that individual and to not blame the individual for his or her symptoms.
Mental Health First Aid teaches you helpful information and resources you can offer to someone to provide consistent emotional support and practical help.
Encourage Appropriate Professional Help
There are a variety of mental health and substance use professionals who can offer help when someone is in crisis or may be experiencing the signs of symptoms of a mental illness.
- Types of Professionals
- Doctors (primary care physicians or psychiatrists)
- Social workers, counselors, and other mental health
professionals - Certified peer specialists
- Types of Professional Help
- “Talk” therapies
- Medication
- Other professional supports
Encourage Self-Help and Other Support Strategies
There are many ways individuals who may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness can contribute to their own recovery and wellness.
These strategies may include:
- Exercise
- Relaxation and Meditation
- Participating in peer support groups
- Self-help books based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Engaging with family, friends, faith, and other social networks