Members of Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) faculty and staff recently spent their day participating in a Mental Health First Aid training session on the Pocahontas campus.

The session, instructed by Arkansas Rural Health Partnership’s Amanda Kuttenkuler, taught participants how to recognize the warning signs of common mental health concerns, and how to approach and respond to an individual during a crisis. The training is not intended to replace counselors or mental health professionals, but to encourage others to seek professional help when needed and to bring awareness to other available resources.

Mental Health First Aid training is an evidence-based program that teaches individuals the skills needed to recognize, understand, and respond to signs that someone may be experiencing a mental health or substance abuse challenge. The training results in a nationally-recognized 3-year credential, and is funded entirely through a grant from the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership.

For more information about Mental Health First Aid visit https://mentalhealthfirstaid.org.