00:00The training sessions, which began today, form part of an ongoing Archdiocesan initiative that has already trained over 260 people
00:07across Trinidad.
00:09The program aims to equip participants with the skills to recognize signs of mental health challenges, emotional distress and suicide
00:16risk, provide initial support and connect individuals with professional help.
00:21It will also cover sensitive communication, confidentiality, safeguarding and self-care.
00:27Father Gerard McGlone, head of the Samaritan Movement, likens the importance of this knowledge to actual first aid response training.
00:35First responders, mental health first aid and suicide first aid is really about much like what the Red Cross teaches
00:41in regards to CPR.
00:43So you know that you have to get the person breathing, you know you have to put out the crisis.
00:48So a good first responder puts out the immediate crisis, then refers.
00:53And so we're also proud that we now have a full mental health wellness directory of all the resources in
01:00Trinidad and Tobago that people can use as first responders so that they then refer for professional help.
01:07Father McGlone says data gathered worldwide points to an ongoing mental health crisis, which makes this training even more important
01:15now.
01:15We have a mental health crisis that is getting worse because of the financial crisis and it's getting worse because
01:22of the levels of violence and abuse and neglect that we see.
01:25People are starving, people aren't able to have employment, people are also struggling with domestic issues, you know, in regards
01:33to abuse in the home.
01:34And these programs that we're attempting to do are really meant to provide the pastoral minister of whatever faith first
01:43aid response, you know, that with knowledge comes power.
01:47John Michael Maeder serves as a consultant in the program, having been a suicide survivor.
01:52He is encouraging persons to break the stigma associated with seeking help with their mental health.
01:58I do think that there is a major stigma that we try to address in terms of seeking help mentally.
02:05You know, in general, we go to doctors for many different things, but we often tend to neglect the mind.
02:12And I think that moving forward, helping to break the stigma by doing trainings like this, exposing persons to material
02:19as such, can help soften the impact of bringing forth mental health initiatives within the nation.
02:26The second day of mental health and suicide first aid training will be held on Saturday, 7th November at the
02:32St. Joseph RC Retreat Centre in Scarborough.
02:36Dominic Ramroop, TV6 News.
