mental health for the first aider
DESCRIPTION
A presentation for first aiders in dealing with patients suffering from mental illness.TRANSCRIPT
Mental Health for the First Aider
By Kane Guthrie
About Me
• Former VFAS• Nurse• Researcher• Blogger
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.
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.
What are the issues?
• Stigma (seeking help)• Alcohol• Knowing what to do• Limited resources• Limited bed’s• More presentations
The Stat’sType of mental disorder Males Females
Anxiety disorder 7.1% 12.0%
Substance use disorder 11.1% 4.5%
Depressive disorder 4.2% 7.4%
1: 5 Australian adults will suffer from some form of common mental disorder in any year
Over 2000 Australians commit suicide each year
The Disorders
• Depressive• Anxiety• Psychosis• Substance use• Personality disorders
The Basic Principles
1. Assess risk of suicide or harm2. Listen non-judgmentally3. Give reassurance and information4. Encourage person to get appropriate
professional help5. Encourage self-help strategies
Medical Causes
• Epilepsy• Blood sugar• Medication toxicity/overdose• Thyroid disorders• Strokes• Multiple neurological disorders• Infection• Hypo/hyperthermia
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.
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:
Sadness Anxiety
Emptiness Hopelessness
Worthlessness Guilt
Irritability Restlessness
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”.
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
Bi-Polar• Characterised by extreme mood swings.• Patient fluctuates between periods of
depression, mania, and normal mood.
Anxiety
• A normal reaction to a stressor.• Ongoing episodes is disabling • Characterised by:1. Physical2. Psychological 3. Behavioral
The anxious patient!
• Move to low stimulus environment• Give reassurance• Encourage them to breath in unison with you• Arrange for medical review
Psychosis
• Loss of some contact with reality• Severe disturbances in thinking, emotion and
behaviour• Causes severe disruption person’s life,
relationships, work and self care.
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.
The Types of Psychosis
• Psychotic depression• Schizophrenia• Schizoaffective disorder (Bi-polar & SCZP)• Drug induced psychosis
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
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
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.
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?
Emergency Help
• Police• Ambulance• M.E.R.L. (1300 555 788)• Emergency department
Helpful ResourcesPhonelines
Lifeline Counseling: 13 11 14Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800Mensline Australia: 1300 789 978
Helpful ResourcesWebsites
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au• www.sane.org/• www.beyondblue.org.au
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
Thank-you