Catholic Charities to host free mental health first aid training in Covington Curia

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

It is estimated that approximately one in five adults in the United States live with mental illness, as reported by the National Institute of Mental Health. With most people struggling themselves or knowing someone struggling with their mental health, many find themselves as “first responders” on the front line of preventing suicide.

A former first responder herself, Autumn Ruehl, CSW, now works as a mental health counselor with Catholic Charities in Northern Kentucky. Ms. Ruehl, with Catholic Charities and in collaboration with Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio, is offering a free “mental health first aid” training, Aug. 25, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., at the diocesan Curia, Covington.

With this training and certification normally attached to a cost of more than $100 per person, this free training is ideal for anyone who wants to better support loved ones, friends, coworkers, parishioners or members of their community. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs of someone experiencing a mental health challenge, respond with confidence and compassion and connect individuals to appropriate resources.

“Mental health first aid is best used as a first line of defense,” said Ms. Ruehl. “What it does is empowers us and helps us feel more comfortable to start the conversation with somebody we think is experiencing a mental health challenge.”

Ms. Ruehl mentioned that, statistically, someone struggling with their mental health are more likely to seek out professional support if someone else suggests to them, making us the “first line” that people might come in contact with.

Additionally, “mental health first aid helps people recognize when someone they love or come in contact with frequently might be experiencing a mental health challenge,” Ms. Ruehl said. Recognizing these signs is imperative, even to saving lives, with 130 Americans losing their lives to suicide each day.

“We know that,” just like with physical illnesses and injuries, “with early intervention, there are better outcomes,” Ms. Ruehl said.

With a minimum required class size of 25, more participants are needed for the free training and certification to remain available. Registration is available now online at https://form.jotform.com/MHFACollaborative/catholic-charities-mhfa-8252026.