ICC Faculty Trained to Teach Mental Health First Aid, Key Tool for Helping Those in Crisis
Twelve Illinois Central College staff and faculty members attended an on-campus train-the-trainers event earlier this month in order to learn “mental health first aid”.
“Think of it as the mental health equivalent of first aid”, says Thomas Payne-Brewer, head of the ICC Counseling Department, who is familiar with the program. “It is the short-term solution to get long-term help.”
The training is being conducted in compliance with the new Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act.
Examples of situations in which MHFA may be necessary are issues like panic attacks, but also for people who are expressing signs of anxiety, depression, or suicidality.
While MHFA trainings have occurred on campus in the past, they were at a much smaller capacity, and this is the first time instructors were trained. Over the course of three days, participants were taught what mental health first aid seminars look like, as well as how to teach them.
While many of those trained were already mental health professionals, the MHFA training opens the gateway to teaching it to more individuals on campus.
Two more of these events will take place over the course of the 2023-2024 school year, in November and March.
This is just one of the programs needed to comply with the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, which acts to “address gaps in mental health services on college campuses across Illinois”.
Payne-Brewer says that many of these programs have been started at ICC quite recently. “We have been taking the biggest steps this calendar year, so a lot of this stuff is brand new”.
Mental health is a growing issue for college-aged students. Payne-Brewer says that the most common time for the development of mental health issues is between the ages of 18 to 24, the most common age group on campus.
Payne-Brewer says he believes that one of the most important lessons taught in MHFA is to help individuals get professional mental help if needed, and one of the best student resources is the ICC Counseling Department.
Students can get help online or in-person and are located in the career center on the East Peoria campus and upstairs in the student center. If you would like to schedule an appointment, you can do so here.
However, for more immediate crises, such as suicidality, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
For free confidential texts about mental health crises, text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer Crisis Counselor.