Communities across Kansas are recognizing the importance of mental health education. Comcare in Sedgwick County holds mental health first aid classes. Comcare says it's similar to a physical first aid class. As people learn how to perform CPR, they should also learn how to help someone in crisis.

"They show up one day and they're just not the same person. They seem a little bit sadder or they don't really care about things. That may not be a big sign, but it's an indicator to say 'something's different about you,'" says Sarena Clubb with Comcare.

Clubb says it's not just about self-harm and suicide. She says people often show signs of mental illness before they hurt themselves. That's why the mental health first aid class uses role-play scenarios. It walks students through the steps of how to offer help. Clubb says it's something that sounds easy, but is harder to do when it actually happens.

"We express to people that if you're uncomfortable now, in trying to do it, how uncomfortable will you be when you meet the person?", Clubb says, "So it's just being able to practice and get comfortable, because it is difficult to ask someone 'are you ok?' or 'do you have thoughts of hurting yourself?'"

Mental health first aid does not mean resolving the situation entirely, but providing immediate assurance that things will be ok, then helping that person seek treatment, just like you would send someone with a medical emergency to the doctor.

"Teaching you about, again, signs and symptoms, what to do when you come across that, and not necessarily take care of the situation, but how to pass them on with a nice pass along to another person who's professionally equipped with being able to help that person," Clubb says.

Comcare's next mental health first aid training is Friday, September 27th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization located at 615 N. Main in downtown Wichita.

Click

here.