{"id":12712,"date":"2021-05-19T13:34:19","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T18:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mentalhe180dev.wpenginepowered.com\/news\/voices-of-mental-health-first-aid-by-being-observant-you-can-change-someones-life\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T08:56:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:56:23","slug":"voices-of-mental-health-first-aid-by-being-observant-you-can-change-someones-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.grafik.mentalhealthfirstaid.org\/es\/news\/voices-of-mental-health-first-aid-by-being-observant-you-can-change-someones-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Voices of Mental Health First Aid: By Being Observant, You Can Change Someone\u2019s Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Being<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Mental Health First Aid<\/span>\u00a0(MHFA)\u00a0<\/span>Instructor\u00a0<\/span>fits<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>perfectly\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>where\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>\u2019<\/span>m<\/span>\u00a0at personally and professionally.\u00a0<\/span>Working<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0the largest<\/span>\u00a0psychiatric hospital\u00a0<\/span>in Texas\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with a staff of\u00a0<\/span>more than\u00a0<\/span>900<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I see how many people really, truly care about\u00a0<\/span>other people<\/span>, but\u00a0<\/span>don<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t<\/span>\u00a0know what else they can do on top of\u00a0<\/span>day-to-day\u00a0<\/span>patient\u00a0<\/span>care.\u00a0<\/span>Thanks to MHFA,\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0establishing a staff support system where we can keep an eye on each other and take care of the caregivers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0not just about where\u00a0<\/span>training<\/span>\u00a0fits in the\u00a0<\/span>jigsaw puzzle of life. Mental health is\u00a0<\/span>more personal<\/span>\u00a0than that<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mental health challenges have always had a presence in my life.\u00a0<\/span>It\u00a0<\/span>wasn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0until I was 15 that\u00a0<\/span>my mother<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>finally received the help she needed\u00a0<\/span>for her mental illness. Her story is one of recovery<\/span>: A\u00a0<\/span>high school drop-out and teen mom who bore the brunt of her mental illness in the stone ages of the 1970s<\/span>, she<\/span>\u00a0went on to become\u00a0<\/span>a paramedic and eventually a\u00a0<\/span>psychiatric\u00a0<\/span>nurse in the very first prison in Texas entirely dedicated to inmates with mental illness.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After\u00a0<\/span>15 successful years\u00a0<\/span>on the air\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>radio<\/span>, I decided that the best version of m<\/span>yself<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>would be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>as a minister.\u00a0<\/span>Following<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>seminary,\u00a0<\/span>ordination<\/span>\u00a0and a few years as an associate pastor, I decided the next \u201cbest version\u201d of m<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0was as a missionary<\/span>, so\u00a0<\/span>I dragged my reluctant wife to Nigeria for a few years until health issues forced us back to the U.S.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in the States, m<\/span>y wife suggested that I become a hospital chaplain<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 even though, a<\/span>t the time, I barely knew such a thing existed. She saw a convergence of things in my life<\/span>, including my own lived experience,\u00a0<\/span>that had helped<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>me\u00a0<\/span>develop a growing empathy for people in crisis.\u00a0<\/span>My<\/span>\u00a0challenges have always been mitigated by a combination of medication, good coping skills and a strong support system<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>but<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I have\u00a0<\/span>seen the occasional glance from a pharmacy cashier, as if to say, \u201cThis guy sure doesn\u2019t look like he has what this medicine is meant for.\u201d Little do they know of\u00a0<\/span>my<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>daily inner struggle<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0I often\u00a0<\/span>wonder<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>how many others\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>out there just like me<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Over time, for good or bad, lived experience leaves an impression on you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each one of the many privileged \u2013 and often sacred \u2013 experiences I had as a hospital chaplain brought me closer to\u00a0<\/span>the latest<\/span>\u00a0\u201cbest version\u201d of myself<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>as a psychiatric chaplain.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>My understanding of the often-fragile nature of our emotional and mental health had grown beyond what I ever expected it would be.\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>orking in a psychiatric hospital brought the struggle some have with mental illness squarely back into my sights<\/span>, so\u00a0<\/span>I sought out opportunities to both educate myself and advocate for mental health issues.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0<\/span>took the\u00a0<\/span>Mental Health Peace Officer course as a\u00a0<\/span>civilian<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0because<\/span>\u00a0I wanted<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to see through\u00a0<\/span>law enforcements\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>eyes the d<\/span>aunting<\/span>\u00a0task\u00a0<\/span>of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>responding to\u00a0<\/span>people who were\u00a0<\/span>actively experiencing\u00a0<\/span>a mental health\u00a0<\/span>issue<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>I was a\u00a0<\/span>TEDx speaker<\/span>\u00a0on the topic of \u201cDestigmatizing Mental Illness.\u201d<\/span><\/a>\u00a0I became a nationally board-certified provider of critical incident stress management and offered free debriefings\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>f<\/span>irst\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>esponders\u00a0<\/span>and frontline hospital personnel.<\/span>\u00a0I was a guest speaker at several meetings of\u00a0<\/span>the National Alliance on Mental Illness (<\/span>NAMI<\/span>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So<\/span>\u00a0w<\/span>hen the opportunity to take Mental Health First Aid\u00a0<\/span>(MHFA)\u00a0<\/span>came up, I took it<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>eagerly<\/span>. Shortly thereafter,\u00a0<\/span>I had the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>chance to become an\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>nstructor<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>for where I was personally and professionally, it was\u00a0<\/span>decidedly<\/span>\u00a0a no-brainer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Probably the most valuable part of MHFA training is the awareness and understanding of\u00a0<\/span>the signs and symptoms of mental illness. The tragic fact is that the average delay between the onset of\u00a0<\/span>symptoms and seeking treatment is\u00a0<\/span>11 years<\/span><\/a>. That absolutely breaks my heart.<\/span>\u00a0Had I known then what I know now,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019d<\/span>\u00a0have been able to get help for myself earlier. I\u00a0<\/span>also would have suggested\u00a0<\/span>help\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>my nephew<\/span>\u00a0earlier;\u00a0<\/span>he\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I was able to<\/span>\u00a0teach<\/span>\u00a0one\u00a0<\/span>Adult MHFA\u00a0<\/span>class before the pandemic, for which\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m<\/span>\u00a0grateful. It was for the staff of a non-profit that offers crime victim services and disaster response.\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>hat a unique space they occupy to be able to spot people in crisis<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I followed up with them, and learned that\u00a0<\/span>post-MHFA,\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>crime victim service providers feel much more comfortable with traumatized victims and feel ready to recommend other services if they see a victim (or a victim\u2019s children) moving in a certain direction. The disaster responders (<\/span>which\u00a0<\/span>includes accidental death, homicide and suicides in the schools in East Texas),\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>report a higher level of comfort going into a difficult situation where they can provide more than just the immediate ministry of presence to traumatized students, parents and faculty.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he opportunity to take, and then become an\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>nstructor\u00a0<\/span>for, Youth<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>MHFA\u00a0<\/span>came a<\/span>s well<\/span>. As a former children\u2019s pastor and youth director,\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019ve<\/span>\u00a0seen firsthand the struggle<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0children and teens\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>have with mental health.\u00a0<\/span>Again, it was a no-brainer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m<\/span>\u00a0finishing up my blended\/virtual Youth MHFA certification, and I\u2019ll co-teach a number of classes\u00a0<\/span>virtually this summer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u00a0<\/span>don\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0have to be an expert to take the MHFA class or become an MHFA Instructor. Just by being more aware of the people and situations that\u00a0<\/span>you<\/span>\u2019<\/span>re<\/span>\u00a0around every day, you can be a blessing to your family, job, school, team, church or community.\u00a0<\/span>By\u00a0<\/span>watching and listening, you can pick up on<\/span>\u00a0signs and symptoms,<\/span>\u00a0and possibly get someone pointed in the direction of help. By simply being observant, you could completely change the trajectory of someone<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0what you learn in MHFA.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I consider it a tremendous privilege to be\u00a0<\/span>in a position<\/span>\u00a0to leverage\u00a0<\/span>my<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>lived experience\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>volunteer and professional<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>experiences<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>To educate, advocate<\/span>\u00a0—<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and perhaps even inspire\u00a0<\/span>—\u00a0<\/span>is an honor that fills my heart and lets me know\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m<\/span>\u00a0where I\u2019m supposed to be, doing what I\u2019m supposed to do, doing what I was destined to do.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Resources<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

N<\/span>ational Alliance for Mental Illness. (2020).\u00a0<\/span>\u201cMental Health Care Matters.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Infographic).\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.nami.org\/NAMI\/media\/NAMI-Media\/Infographics\/NAMI_MentalHealthCareMatters_2020_FINAL.pdf<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pointer, J.<\/span>\u00a0(2020, February).\u00a0<\/span>Destigmatizing Mental Illness<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>[Video].\u00a0<\/span>TEDx<\/span>MountainViewCollege<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/jason_pointer_destigmatizing_mental_illness<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Being\u00a0a\u00a0Mental Health First Aid\u00a0(MHFA)\u00a0Instructor\u00a0fits\u00a0perfectly\u00a0with\u00a0where\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0at personally and professionally.\u00a0Working\u00a0in\u00a0the largest\u00a0psychiatric hospital\u00a0in Texas\u00a0\u2013\u00a0with a staff of\u00a0more than\u00a0900\u00a0\u2013\u00a0I see how many people really, truly care about\u00a0other people, but\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know what else they can do on … Read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":12715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[229,181],"news-type":[172],"class_list":["post-12712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-guest-commentary","topic-mhfa-training","news-type-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nVoices of Mental Health First Aid: By Being Observant, You Can Change Someone\u2019s Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.grafik.mentalhealthfirstaid.org\/es\/news\/voices-of-mental-health-first-aid-by-being-observant-you-can-change-someones-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Voices of Mental Health First Aid: By Being Observant, You Can Change Someone\u2019s Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Being\u00a0a\u00a0Mental Health First Aid\u00a0(MHFA)\u00a0Instructor\u00a0fits\u00a0perfectly\u00a0with\u00a0where\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0at personally and professionally.\u00a0Working\u00a0in\u00a0the largest\u00a0psychiatric hospital\u00a0in Texas\u00a0\u2013\u00a0with a staff of\u00a0more than\u00a0900\u00a0\u2013\u00a0I see how many people really, truly care about\u00a0other people, but\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know what else they can do on ... 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