BLUFFTON, OH (WLIO) – It may be easy to identify a person that is physically hurt, but what if someone is hurt mentally or emotionally.  That’s where Mental Health First Aid comes in.  Prevention Awareness Support Services or PASS has been working with the resident advisors at Bluffton University to help others who may be challenged or struggling with mental health issues.  The training shows people how to identify signs of an issue and help direct that person to local resources for direct care if needed.   The training also practices the awkward conversations that could happen if they approach a person that they may be concerned about.

“It’s a scary thing to think that when a person says I am not feeling well today, what do a say, I don’t want to make matters worse,” says Donna Dickman, Prevention Awareness Support Services.  “So, to start that conversation of concern, a lot of times people just need someone to listen to them, non-judgmentally and it helps people feel better.  But there are some people that would benefit from mental health professional services.”

 R.A.’s have close contact with the students in their dorms, they could be the first to identify a potential mental health change or issue and then help direct the students to the help they need. 

“Having that ability to have difficult conversations with individuals that may be struggling is really important,” says Michael Bryan, Coordinator of Residence Life Bluffton University.  “At least that small developmental piece of getting them to talk about stuff that maybe awkward to talk about, I think that will be extremely helpful going forward.” 

If you are an organization that has a group of between 12 and 30 people that would like to take part in the Mental Health First Aid training, contact PASS in Lima at 419-549-8530.  Dickman says the training would be for anyone over the age of 18-years-old and would benefit all organizations.