The training was part of NURS-H360 Interactive Processes for junior-year students, in conjunction with their mental health clinicals. The recent session was facilitated by Jeff Hartz, EI-AHEC Executive Director, and Becky Niece, EI-AHEC Clinical Education Coordinator.
“Nursing students are already people who are oriented towards being helpers and who are developing skills in recognizing signs and symptoms when something is wrong,” Hartz explained. He said this training equips nurses to be better prepared not only when a patient is experiencing a mental health challenge, but also when they have concerns about a patient’s family member, a community member, or even a fellow classmate or coworker.
More than 200 nursing students have received Mental Health First Aid training in the region though EI-AHEC, including IU Columbus nursing students for the past several years. Hartz noted that participants’ course evaluations consistently show an increased confidence in handling situations where people are struggling with a mental health challenge.
Mental Health First Aid is a national, skills-based training course that includes certification upon completion. To learn more, visit mentalhealthfirstaid.org.
To learn more about EI-AHEC, visit eiahec.org.