Overdose Awareness and Memorial Vigil, Eddystone, PA Saturday August 23

An overdose awareness and memorial vigil/walk is being held tomorrow (Saturday, August 23) in Eddystone, PA at 5:00 pm.

The walk will begin at 1000 E. Fourth St. and conclude at Dom Marion Field, behind Lighthouse Hall, where a candlelight vigil will commence to remember loved ones lost to addiction and overdose.

Pre-registration is $25. Same day registration is $20. Children under 12 are $10.

Please contact Christine Cocker at 610.803.6934 with any questions.

Mental Health First Aid

I recently took a course in Mental Health First Aid. Haven’t heard of it before? Neither had I until I had come across it when looking to sign up for something else. What is Mental Health First Aid and how can it be a benefit in our communities?

Mental Health First Aid originated in Australia and has recently been slowly accumulating in the world of mental health. Although you may find most of your classmates to be social workers or special education teachers it is a free course offered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS.org) and open to the general public. You can see if a course is offered in your area by checking out the website here: mentalhealthfirstaid.org

But what is Mental Health First Aid? Modeled after the physical First Aid most of us are aware of, Mental Health First Aid is designed to provide the first-aider with simple intervention and initial care of a mental health crisis. A mental health crisis can range from panic attacks to psychosis to suicidal ideation. Much like First Aid, it is not intended to diagnose a mental illness, but rather to direct a layperson to appropriate help and reduce the risk of the person coming to harm.

You can put a band-aid on a scraped knee but ebbing the floodtide of an onset mental health crisis can be a lot trickier. This course not only teaches you appropriate responses but may also help to reduce the stigma of mental illness. Stop and think how often you may have walked away from a situation because you just didn’t know what to say. How might the situation have played out if you did know what to say or do? Would you be more likely to help someone in a crisis if you were properly trained?

 Important Note: AAES tries not to be biased or opinionated when it comes to these articles (preferring to the usual straight facts only) but because this course is so young we may not agree with some of the steps – however they ARE steps in the right direction. If we don’t agree or if there is an attempt to clarify, the responses will be in bold.

The course teaches three essential points: determine the nature and severity of the situation, determine what service is applicable and how urgently this service must be rendered, and determine appropriate support for recovery after or during care. (Sounds a lot like regular first aid, right?)

Here is the 5-step action plan taught in the course:

1. Assess for risk of suicide or self-harm
2. Listen non-judgementally
3. Give reassurance and information
4. Encourage appropriate professional help
5. Encourage self-help and other support strategies

Which is very similar to the (much simpler) 3P’s and ABC’s first aid action plan:

1. Preserve life (Airway)
2. Prevent further harm (Breathing)
3. Promote recovery (Circulation)

Over the next few postings, we’ll take an in-depth look into each of the five steps and how you can recognize the warning signs of a mental health crisis.

In the meantime, do you:

Have any questions for the webmaster? Contact Ashley Aleksey atomsandemptyspace08@gmail.com

Have any questions about the course? Or Where to find a course near you? Check out http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/find_mhfa.php

Need help now?

For non-medical emergencies call 24/7: 1-888-545-2600 or TTY: 1-888-436-7482

For a delegate hotline: 215-685-6440

For the Suicide and Crisis Intervention Hotline: 215-686-4420

Alcohol Awareness Month – Determining Dependence: The AUDIT

In order to be aware of alcohol abuse and misuse, we need to clearly define what it is. The DSM-IV is regarded as a chronic illness if 3 out of the 7 criteria are met within a 6 month time frame:

1. tolerance
2. withdrawal
3. use in large amounts
4. persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down use
5. excessive time spent obtaining alcohol
6. social, occupational, and/or recreational pursuits in decline
7. use continued despite knowledge of harm

Because alcoholism affects a high number of people in the United States (12% of Americans aged 18 and older will experience alcohol dependence in their lifetime) the DSM-IV isn’t the only tool used by professionals as a determining factor.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is the most accurate assessment available. We’ve extracted it from the test booklet given to professionals from the World Health Organization and included it in this article for your convenience (not as a way to diagnose an illness as only a professional can do that!).

Here’s what each scoring means:

• Scores between 8 and 15 are most appropriate for simple advice focused on the reduction of hazardous drinking.
• Scores between 16 and 19 suggest brief counseling and continued monitoring.
• Scores of 20 or above clearly warrant further diagnostic evaluation for alcohol dependence.

For the original booklet written by Babor et. al and more information, please visit http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2001/WHO_MSD_MSB_01.6a.pdf