Mental Health First Aid Training For Law Enforcement Officials

DULUTH, Minn. — One organization hosted a free Mental Health First Aid training to help law enforcement officials on the job.

The training hosted by Marsh McLennan Agency or MMA offers key skills to help manage a situation where officials may need to engage with someone facing a mental health challenge.

Attending the event was first responders and those who live with or work closely with first responders in the Duluth-Superior area. Employees at MMA say especially in the wake of the Cloquet shooting last night, these trainings are crucial.

“It’s absolutely important. It’s important for everybody to actually be trained in this because we all have mental health. Everybody experiences mental health and everybody has mental health challenges. And so, by going through this training, understanding what those signs and symptoms are, and how to support one another especially for those who are at the scene dealing with the situation,” said Courtney Patt, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Health Management Consulting Manager for MMA.

A big part of the training is erasing the stigma around talking about mental health.

“The whole goal of the class is to help reduce the stigma and by reducing the stigma it’s about talking about it. It’s about being better educated on the topic as well. So, we spend some time going through understanding mental health,” said Patt. “It’s more about helping them identify signs and symptoms and the resources. Where they need to go in their community or wherever else that they need to go.”

The training was also important as it is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. MMA encourages those who notice changes in their colleagues to talk to them and help them get the help they need.

There are also courses available to everyone, you can go online at mentalhealthfirstaid.org to learn more.