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I had the opportunity to take part in the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) programme, a training for students that want to become a contact person for others that struggle with their mental health. MHFA is a new programme here at Frankfurt School, especially aimed at Class Representatives, Initiative Heads, and the Student Council.
The idea is simple: Many people complete a First Aid course to help others in medical emergency situations. But what about mental health emergencies? Many of us have struggled with their mental health at some point or know someone that did. But often times, we have no idea how to help in these situations. How should I talk to someone who is having a panic attack? Should I approach a friend that seems like exam stress is overwhelming them? And can I call an ambulance when someone is having a mental health emergency? These questions and more are answered during the 12-hour course, that equips you with foundational knowledge about different mental health topics.
Our course was split up into six 2-hour sessions. It was during my semester abroad, so I was grateful that all sessions were held online. We started with the basics of mental health. Then, we talked about different kinds of mental health problems, as well as acute psychological crisis situations. All topics were a mix of information presented by an external mental health expert and practical examples that helped understand the different topics. We had the opportunity to break out into smaller groups and practice how we would react in different situations. Then, we presented our approach in front of the whole group, receiving helpful feedback.
Of course, the goal of the MHFA training is not to teach us how to become a therapist – just like a normal first aid course does not teach you how to be a doctor. Instead, it helps you feel empowered to help others, and teaches you when you need to involve a professional.
After completing the course, you take an online assessment, testing your knowledge with some theoretical questions and practical examples. If you are successful in the assessment, you receive a certification and get a note in your official Transcript of Records. Personally, I feel like the course helped me be more aware of how important mental health is for all of us. I learned how I can approach someone who is struggling with their mental health, stand by them, and inform them about available professional help.
After finishing the MHFA training, you have the opportunity to join the MHFA community. We are a group of 22 Mental Health First Aiders that support all kinds of projects surrounding mental health at Frankfurt School. For example, we helped with the organisation of the Frankfurt School Wellbeing Day, a day full of free activities on campus and online to help us focus on our mental and physical health. There, we had an MHFA booth, informing other students about the programme and offering Mental Health First Aid Speed Dating to meet students that are interested in talking to us.
The MHFA community meets about twice per semester to exchange ideas on how to strengthen mental health awareness at Frankfurt School and to talk about situations where we were faced with difficult situations, whether in our private life or in our role as a Mental Health First Aider.
If you ever need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our Mental Health First Aiders! You can now find an overview of who we are and how to reach us under the new “MHFA Community” section. A full list of all trained MHFAs is also available in the Study Guide under the “Personal Well-being & Coaching” section, and then under “Mental Health First Aid.” Additionally, don’t forget about the university’s Counsellor Service, which is available for all study-related or personal concerns. You can find more information about this in the same Study Guide section or reach out to our Student Counsellor Alexandra Rübesam: a.ruebesam@fs.de
Join our Well-being Day at FS with many interesting lectures and activities (programme to follow) – and feel free to follow on Instagram.
Or visit our monthly “Let’s talk about…” events organised by students for students, where many interesting topics will be discussed. Feel free to check it out and join our WhatsApp-Community.
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