AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH - The Nossal Institute for ...
AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH - The Nossal Institute for ...
AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH - The Nossal Institute for ...
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Stay calm and keep the atmosphere as non-threatening as possible; talk quietly, firmly<br />
and simply, avoid making any abrupt movements.<br />
Do not raise your voice or talk too quickly.<br />
Do not threaten the person, as this will increase their fear and may trigger an aggressive<br />
reaction.<br />
Give the person enough space so that they don’t feel trapped.<br />
Try to get the person to sit down; it is best if you are both seated side by side rather than<br />
facing each other.<br />
Do not ask a lot of questions as these can cause the person to become defensive, agitated<br />
or angry.<br />
If the person’s behaviour appears to be getting out of control, you must remove yourself<br />
from the situation and immediately call <strong>for</strong> other people to help.<br />
Step 2<br />
Read Case study H to the participants.<br />
Case study H<br />
Kavi is a 25 year old man who has had a severe mental illness <strong>for</strong> many years.<br />
He is known to abuse alcohol but generally takes his medication regularly.<br />
Kavi arrives at a community function looking untidy, unshaven and appears<br />
distracted. Suddenly he jumps up and shouts ‘stop it you bastards I’m not<br />
going to let you do that’. He picks up a chair and throws it at a group of people<br />
standing close to him.<br />
Ask participants to suggest some MHFA actions in response to Kavi.<br />
Write the responses on the black/white board, try to group the actions<br />
under the five MHFA headings.<br />
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<strong>AN</strong> <strong>INTRODUCTION</strong> <strong>TO</strong> <strong>MENTAL</strong> <strong>HEALTH</strong>