A mind and a body.

We all have both.

When our mind and body are both healthy, we feel on top of the world.

When one is not well, we find life more of a struggle.

Just like our physical health, our mental health moves between good and poor, and the swing to the negative side can result in problems.

Factors affecting mental health include gender, disposition, genetics, connectedness with other people and physical health.

Pain, disability and chronic physical health conditions are risk factors for poorer mental health and also make up most of the reasons why people seek out physiotherapy treatment.

It is no surprise that physiotherapists report seeing more than the national average of one in four people with a mental health problem.

Physiotherapists have very good observation skills and can recognise when a person is not mentally well.

Although we are not qualified to make a diagnosis, we can tell when something is wrong.

We are caring people and we want to help everyone, but when it comes to talking to someone about their mental health, we don’t always feel confident.

Knowing how to start a conversation to talk about your concerns and having some idea about how to direct someone to access appropriate treatment makes us more confident to talk about mental health problems.

Some physiotherapists were lucky enough to cover this in their entry-level course, but sadly this is not the case for the majority.

The APA is addressing this by offering mental health first aid (MHFA) taught by APA members who are accredited MHFA instructors.

Associate Professor Joanne Connaughton finds great value in mental health first aid courses for physiotherapists. 

An MHFA course explains the signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, psychosis and substance use disorders, how to approach a person to discuss their mental health problems and how to assist them to seek help.

The course also teaches how to recognise if a person is experiencing a crisis and how to manage this situation.

Traditionally, MHFA has been taught face to face over 12 hours; however, the course has been adapted for online delivery, with 5–7 hours of self-paced e-learning followed by two 90-minute ‘face-to-face’ tutorials held via Zoom.

The benefit of the MHFA course is best summed up by Ellen Lake, chair of the APA Mental Health group:

‘In the first week after completing MHFA training, a WorkCover client presented for their clinic appointment in the midst of experiencing a manic crisis—triggered by drug use.

'The same client had previously disclosed a comorbidity of bipolar disorder, with recent cessation of prescription medications due to concern about weight gain.

'Through applying the principles and response structure I learned through MHFA, I was able to confidently, competently and compassionately assist this client in a way that favoured best outcomes for their physical and mental health and ultimately their return to work.

‘This experience reinforced for me the value of MHFA training in working with clinical clients in the community.

'Statistics tell us that one in five people will experience mental illness in any one year.

'In the clinics I work in, however, the presentation prevalence of mental illness comorbidity is much higher.

'I was very much struck by the fact that, with all that was going on for this courageous client, they attended their appointment, saying, “I need help”.

'MHFA helped me to be able to do just that, in a way which also supported my wellbeing as a practitioner.’

The online MHFA course will be held on 15 and 22 September 2021, while the MHFA course will be held on 13–14 November in Bentley, Western Australia.

Click here and search ‘mental health’ to find out more about the Mental Health First Aid courses available.

>> Associate Professor Joanne Connaughton is an adjunct at the University of Notre Dame Australia, having retired from the Dean’s position in 2018. Joanne is also the Australian representative on the International Organization of Physical Therapy in Mental Health.