Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare Hosts Free Mental Health First Aid Course March 27

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - March 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare is pleased to announce a free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification course for Flagler County residents on Friday, March 27^th, 2015 from 8am to 5:30pm at the Flagler County Government Services Building.

The course will be instructed by Sini Summerlin, CIT coordinator/MHFA instructor of SMABH.

“This course teaches a five-step action plan to offer initial help to someone with signs and symptoms of a mental health illness or crisis, and show how to connect them with the appropriate professionals,” stated Summerlin. “The course is designed for anyone such as first responders, teachers, students, HR professionals faith leaders, and caring citizens,” added Summerlin.

Traditional first aid such as a bandage, CPR, Heimlich or calling 911 is not applicable in a mental health situation. Any persons such as first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens are encouraged and eligible to take the free eight-hour Mental Health First Aid course.

Due to a grant awarded to Flagler County, this class is only available to residents living and working in Flagler County.  Seating is limited and registration is required. The Flagler County Government Services Building is located at 1769 E. Moody Blvd. in Bunnell and the class will be held in Building 2, 3rd Floor, Room 3. To register, follow this link: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.smabehavioral.org/TRG_CALENDAR.htm

For more information or to participate in a Mental Health First Aid training in Flagler County, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.smabehavioral.org or email Sini Summerlin, MHFA contact at mhfa.volusiaflagler@hotmail.com, or call (386) 236-1809.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare has been serving the northeast Florida community with mental health and drug treatment services for over 50 years. They operate 35 mental health and substance abuse programs, providing prevention, diversion, intervention, and treatment services, delivered to a diverse client population in a 4-county region (Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia). SMA’s St. Johns clinic provides outpatient mental health and addictions services to more than 1,000 residents annually.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare’s mission is to deliver exceptional and comprehensive behavioral healthcare to individuals and families in our community. Their vision is of a community where addiction and mental illness are treated promptly, comprehensively and with respect for all. They can be reached 800-539-4228 (tel:800-539-4228) or online at http://www.smabehavioral.orgor stay connected with them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SMABehavioralHealthServices.

Mental Health First Aid originated in 2001 in Australia under the direction of founders Betty Kitchener and Tony Jorm. To date, it has been replicated in twenty other countries worldwide, including Hong Kong, Scotland, England, Canada, Finland, and Singapore.