Mental Health 101 Blueprint for Learning
MH101®
As members of the community from all walks of life, our facilitators Erica and Rhys took us through the MH101® workbook where we got to learn and embrace more knowledge and understanding about mental health. The purpose of Mental Health 101 is to develop the confidence to recognise, relate, and respond to people experiencing mental health challenges and reduce stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health challenges. I thoroughly enjoyed this mental health training and highly recommend it to anyone who would like to know and learn more about Mental Health.
The Learning Outcomes of this workshop are:
Recognise the signs of good mental health challenges
Use Te Whare Tapa Whā to support mental wellbeing
Relate to what people with mental health challenges and experiencing.
Respond supportively to mental distress.
Topics covered in MH101® include stress and wellbeing, mental health challenges, suicide, trauma, supportive language, and perspective, building a connection, sharing your concerns, when to get help, and local support.
It's an investment
MH101® is designed to equip you to recognise, relate, and respond to people experiencing distress or those in need of mental health support - both at work and in everyday life. It also provides valuable skills on how to look after your own mental health and wellbeing.
Delivered face to face or webinar, MH101® workshops are an investment in the lives and futures of individuals and organisations, as well as our communities.
Quality learning
Blueprint for Learning is one of New Zealand’s largest training providers in mental health and addiction, dedicated to both workforce development and community training projects.
Our team has delivered more than 1300 workshops to over 30,000 participants since 2008.
Blueprint for Learning is an NZQA accredited Private Training Establishment. We have the highest quality Category 1 External Education and Review rating in education achievement and self-assessment issued by NZQA.
Three key points from the Learning Outcomes we discussed as a group:
Te Whare Tapa Whā
The Te Whare Tapa Whā model describes four walls that a whare must have to hold up the roof and keep it strong. Each wall represents a different dimension of health. If any of the four Te Whare Tapa Whā walls is missing or damaged, the whare will not function as it needs to.
2. Language Matters
Our language reflects our beliefs and the way we view people. We are often unaware of the impact the words we choose can have on our own attitudes as well as on those around us. Language is powerful, especially when talking about mental health or addiction.
Avoid describing people as their label or diagnosis. For example, say “person with an addiction'“ rather than alcoholic or “addict”. People are not a set of symptoms or a disease. If a person chooses to describe themselves this way it is their choice.
3. Building a Connection
Active listening
Choose your meeting space to be somewhere comfortable and without distractions or people interrupting you. Switch your phone to silent so it won’t intrude your conversation.
Think about where you are sitting in relation to the other person, so you feel connected to them but not too close to invade their personal space.
Body language is as important as what you say. Sit openly with your arms and legs as relax as possible.
To listen you have to be silent. Don’t be afraid of silence, it can give time for a person to reflect on what has been said or collect their thoughts. Use the OARS approach with your conversation:
O – Open questions
A – Affirm, finding positive things to say
R – Reflect back to show you have listened and understood
S – Summarise what you have talked about
What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering?
In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr. Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.
Empathy instead of sympathy
Empathy builds a connection with someone who is distress. It is connecting with them in such a way that they feel less alone.
To do this we need to:
- Recognise their emotions they are experiencing
- Not judge them for their perspective
- Communicate this by feeling it with them
Where to get HELP
Call 1737
Anyone can call or text New Zealand’s mental health and addiction FREE helpline any time and talk to a mental health counselor.
Le Va provides a suicide prevention training program called LifeKeepers. It is FREE and available to anybody. This training teaches you to support people in distress to get the help they need, using these steps:
CONNECT with compassion
ASK with courage
RESPOND with confidence
ENGAGE with community supports
Just a Thought is an effective therapy tool available to any New Zealander. It is FREE and instantly available to anybody at www.justathought.co.nz
National depression initiative
Join John Kirwan at www.depression.org.nz. Find stories of other people who have journeyed through life with depression and other mental health challenges and find information to help you recognise and understand depression.
Other websites
Mental Health Foundation – www.mentalhealth.org.nz
Waka Hourua – www.wakahourua.co.nz
Like Minds, Like Mine – www.likeminds.org.nz
Skylight – www.skylight.org.nz
Balance – www.balance.org.nz
Ministry of Health – www.health.govt.nz
The Lowdown – www.thelowdown.co.nz
Citizens Advice Bureau FREE and confidential advice and support – www.cab.org.nz
HELPLINES
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 – FREE Text: 4357 (HELP)
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 – FREE Text: 4202
Anxiety Helpline: FREE 24H support line – 0800 269 4389
Suicide Crisis Helpline: FREE Nationwide – 0508 828 865
Youthline: 0800 376 633
Seniorline – 0800 725 463
The Samaritans – 24/7 confidential support – 0800 726 666
OUTline – 0800 688 5463
Quitline – 0800 778 778
Alcohol Drug Helpline
ONLINE Chat available – www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz – 0800 787 797 – Text 8681
Māori Line – 0800 787 798
Pasifika Line – 0800 787 799
Youth Line – 0800 787 984
Gambling Helpline
ONLINE Chat available – www.gamblinghelpline.co.nz – 0800 654 655 – Text 8006
Māori Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 656
Vai Lelei Pasifika Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 657
Youth Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 659
Gambling Debt Helpline – 0800 654 658
“He aha te mea nui o tea o…
He tāngata, He tāngata, He tāngata
What is the most important thing in this world?
It is people, it is people, it is people. ”