Being aware of your health and knowing how to detect any abnormal symptoms is a great way to look after yourself and your loved ones.
Most of us are aware of the common signs of physical illnesses. We can easily detect symptoms of flu, migraines, or, most recently, the covid-19 virus.
But, what about mental health? What if you or someone you love is dealing with a type of illness that you can’t really recognize in a glimpse? What if the illness causes inner turmoil and involves changes in the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves?
As per the World Health Organization, one in five citizens in America has a mental disorder. According to official statistics, less than 20% of people with mental health issues get the required help. Even among these, there are people who have waited an entire decade to ask for help.
It is staggering that while a full 20% of us are currently struggling, most of us have no idea what to do in the face of this crisis. To bridge this awareness gap, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers Mental Health 101 – a course that provides a basic understanding of mental health and mental illness.
To help you get started, let us dive deeper into the Mental Health 101 course and how it can help aid awareness around mental health and well-being.
What Is The Mental Health 101 NAMI Course?
The Mental Health 101 NAMI course is an introductory program that aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of mental health, mental illnesses, and their impact on individuals, families, and societies. The course is designed to provide a basic understanding of various forms of mental disorders, their signs and symptoms, along with the available treatment options.
Along with providing basic information on mental illnesses, the Mental Health 101 NAMI course also covers how mental illnesses affect personal and professional life. It aims to erase the stigma associated with mental illnesses and promote greater understanding and empathy among people.
Now that you have an understanding of what Mental Health 101 is, let us understand the training structure, eligibility criteria, and benefits of the course.
Who Is The Mental Health 101 Course For?
Mental health 101 is for anyone wanting to learn about mental health and mental illnesses. It is especially beneficial for caregivers, family members, and friends of those affected by mental illnesses.
By gaining a basic overview of mental illnesses, you will be able to better understand the needs of the individuals in need. While encountering situations involving mental health issues, most people are unsure about what to do or say. Mental health 101 is the perfect place to start in such cases. It empowers you with the right and trusted information that helps you provide better care to anyone in need.
Who are the trainers at Mental Health 101?
The course is led by trainers at NAMI who have personally been affected by mental illnesses through themselves or their loved ones. The personal experiences that trainers bring along with them make the course more relatable to the general public.
Additionally, NAMI has trainers who are experts in various areas of mental health. They have undergone rigorous learning programs to become facilitators of the course. With proper skill and adequate knowledge, trainers at Mental Health 101 are equipped to provide the right training and handle sensitive topics and create a safe space for their learners.
What does the Mental Health 101 training include?
Mental health 101 training programs are generally held in offline mode in group settings. However, as part of adjusting and paving the way for the post-pandemic world, the course is also available on online platforms now.
The course is a comprehensive six-week training program where learners are presented with the opportunity to learn about mental health issues by people who have lived through such experiences, directly or indirectly, as well as experts from the field of medical science.
The main topics covered under the Mental Health 101 training program include:
1. Basic overview of mental health conditions
This part of the course covers basic knowledge of various mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, schizophrenia, etc. It includes teaching sessions on the various symptoms, causes, and available treatment options related to the conditions.
2. Basic understanding of the brain and mental health
This part of the Mental Health 101 course covers the scientific process of the functioning of the brain and the impact of mental health issues on it. It also teaches individuals about the latest development in the field of research around mental health.
3. Understanding the impact of mental illnesses
Mental health 101 aims to generate empathy and support for people dealing with mental health issues and their loved ones. Therefore, it also covers how mental health impacts individuals, families, and societies as a whole.
4. Navigating the mental health system
The course also teaches how individuals and their families can navigate through the mental health system and get the required professional helps. This includes providing a framework for accessing various treatments, finding therapists or counselors, etc.
5. Erasing stigma and discrimination
The course aims to eliminate stigma and discrimination around mental health issues. To support the cause, it covers the impact of stigma and discrimination around mental health and ways to avoid it.
Along with these basic modules, Mental Health 101 is a highly interactive course that allows discourse and debate among learners. It also provides ample opportunities to address and clear doubts with the experts.
What is the fee for the course?
The Mental Health 101 course is generally provided free to all learners. However, it is always safe to check in with your local NAMI affiliate branch for the proper pricing and registration details. The course is open to all people and has no strict eligibility criteria.
What are the benefits of taking the course?
The best way to fight the mental health crisis looming over the world is through information and awareness. Mental Health 101 is the perfect place for you to start gaining this knowledge and spreading awareness.
Through the course, you can:
1. Get a better understanding of how mental health issues impact our lives.
Mental health issues are much more common and serious than what most people understand. Through the Mental Health 101 course, you can get a clear overview of how different mental health issues affect every aspect of people’s lives. It will give you a clear picture of how pervasive and severe the scenario is and will prompt you to take action.
2. Help reduce stigma and curb misinformation.
As discussed above, most societies are riddled with stigma and misinformation about mental health. This stigma restricts people from seeking timely professional help, which harms their chances of proper recovery in the future. With a course like Mental Health 101, more and more people can educate themselves and provide a supportive environment for those in need.
3. Gain the confidence to help someone in need.
Mental Health 101 does not just provide you with theoretical knowledge on how to deal with mental health issues. It also equips you to deal with real-life situations, help people in need, and literally save lives.
Conclusion:
Mental Health 101 NAMI course is an introductory course providing an overview of various mental health issues and ways to cope with them. It empowers learners with knowledge that allows them to understand mental illnesses clearly, reduce stigma, and help those in need.
Chances are that someone you meet is suffering internally, and you might not even notice. Even if you do, you will mostly be unsure about what to do. You would wish to do something for them and bring about a real change, but the need for more information might curb your abilities. Mental health 101 empowers you with that ability to help.
Now that you know about Mental Health 101, let us take you to the next step. Do you know that just like physical first aid programs, there exist mental health first aid programs too? Yes, mental health first aid is real and the absolute need of the hour. To learn more about mental health first aid certification programs, click here.
To continue learning about mental health, subscribe to Your Mental Health Pal.