A presentation for first aiders in dealing with patients suffering from mental illness.

1. Mental Health for the First Aider By Kane Guthrie

2. About Me Former VFAS Nurse Researcher Blogger

3. Mental Illness A mental disorder is a diagnosable illness which causes major changes in a person’s thinking, emotional state and behavior, and disrupts the person’s ability to work and carry on their usual personal relationships.

4. Mental Health First aid Preserve life where a person may be a danger to themselves or others Provide help to prevent the mental health problem developing into a more serious state Promote recovery of good mental health Provide comfort to a person suffering a mental illness.

5. What are the issues? Stigma (seeking help) Alcohol Knowing what to do Limited resources Limited bed’s More presentations

6. The Stat’s 1: 5 Australian adults will suffer from some form of common mental disorder in any year Over 2000 Australians commit suicide each year

7. The Disorders Depressive Anxiety Psychosis Substance use Personality disorders

8. The Basic Principles Assess risk of suicide or harm Listen non-judgmentally Give reassurance and information Encourage person to get appropriate professional help Encourage self-help strategies

9. Medical Causes Epilepsy Blood sugar Medication toxicity/overdose Thyroid disorders Strokes Multiple neurological disorders Infection Hypo/hyperthermia

10. Depression Others imply they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job or broken up with someone. But these experiences carry with them feelings. Depression, instead, is flat, hollow and unendurable. Kay Jamison, An Unquiet mind.

11. Depression Is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thought, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. May include feelings of:

12. Suicide Taboo subject Men Vs Women Committed out of despair All patients with suicidal ideation need referral to a healthcare professional for assessment “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem”.

13. The depressed/suicidal patient! Listen (everyone has a story let them tell it) Ask about suicide/plan/overdose Request help Stay with patient until help arrives

14. Bi-Polar Characterised by extreme mood swings. Patient fluctuates between periods of depression, mania, and normal mood.

15. Anxiety A normal reaction to a stressor. Ongoing episodes is disabling Characterised by: Physical Psychological Behavioral

17. Give reassurance

18. Encourage them to breath in unison with you

20. Psychosis Delusions: False beliefs of persecution, guilt, special mission, or being under outside control. Hallucinations: These are false perceptions. Most commonly involve seeing, feeling, tasting or smelling things. Perceived as very real by the person, but are not actually there.

21. The Types of Psychosis Psychotic depression Schizophrenia Schizoaffective disorder (Bi-polar & SCZP) Drug induced psychosis

22. The Thought-Disordered Patient! Call for help Approach quietly and cautiously Be polite and respectful, and reassure Listen, don’t contradict, debate or interrupt patient’s ideas

23. The Violent/Aggressive Patient! Call for help Police/Security Don’t put yourself in danger If safe to approach, do it slowly, identify yourself. Try to ascertain source of aggression Monitor till help arrives

24. Substance Use Disorder Dependence on alcohol or a drug Use of alcohol/drug which leads to problems at work, school or home, and even legal problems Use of alcohol/drug at a level which causing damage to health.

25. The Intoxicated/Overdose Patient DRABC Remain calm, reassuring, professional Maintaining the airway is paramount Assess for other injuries/medical conditions Monitor conscious state History, what, when,& how much?

26. Emergency Help Police Ambulance M.E.R.L. (1300 555 788) Emergency department

28. Take Home Points Your safety comes first Listening is the best treatment Remain open minded, non-judgmental Don’t get into the circle of despair Remember medical causes first Mental illness doesn’t discriminate Debrief yourself

30. Thank-you