Support for a mental health condition is important, no matter your age, and an upcoming course has one important group of people in mind.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An unique course, to help people understand and relate to the mental health needs of older people, is coming to Shoalhaven Heads this month.
Well-known mental health first aid instructor, Annette Tesoriero, from Upskill Mental Health, will be facilitating course run over two Saturdays (November 16 and then November 23) at the Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre.
"Mental health first aid is for everyone," Ms Tesoriero said.
"Everyone in our community should know about mental health first aid.
"Mental health first aid is just like regular first aid - sometimes help is needed when nobody else is around to deliver that help."
Ms Tesoriero said from the course people will be able to assess situations with knowledge they currently may not own.
"It's about knowing how we can give of ourselves to that older person to assist them to get to track again," Ms Tesoriero said.
Concession fee for the course is $120, further concessions available for family carers and full price is $350.
Registration fee includes refreshments, lunches on both days, comprehensive handbook and other learning materials.
It's one of the few times this particular course has been run in the Shoalhaven.
The leading Upskill Mental Health trainer said the regular mental health first aid courses had a strong uptake.
"Not many people, however, know about this new course," Ms Tesoriero said.
"With the recent findings of the Royal Commission into aged care, this course is really important so people can understand the needs of older people.
"The target audience for the course is anyone who has an older person in their life.
Ms Tesoriero stressed people would get skills to assist the older person to live a good life.
The mental health trainer said the course would be suitable for someone looking after an older person at home or somebody with a family member or friend in an aged care facility.
"It (the course) then makes you a much better advocate for that person," Ms Tesoriero said.
Read more:
Local volunteer Ann Frankham, even with her background as a mental health advocate and as someone with a lived experience, said she would benefit from the course.
"I am attending the course as an individual as it will give me more skills," Ms Frankham.
The course covers things like how to recognise common mental health problems in older people including confusion, delirium and dementia, how to provide initial help using a practical action plan, how to locate professional help and how to respond in a crisis.
At the completion of the course, people will become an accredited Mental Health First Aider with Mental Health First Aid Australia.
Ms Frankham said it was important all people knew about aged mental health first aid because you never know when it will be needed.
Anne used to visit her aunt Kate in a nursing home and recalls seeing other residents she knew had mental health issues.
She believes those residents could have used assistance from something who had completed the aged care mental health first aid course.
Numbers to call if you or anyone you know needs help:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36
Headspace 1800 650 890
QLife 1800 184 527
