In December 2023, Dr. Anita Catlin was funded by SAMHSA, the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to offer mental health training to all persons working for or associated with Kaiser Permanente Vacaville and Vallejo Medical Centers. The grant is over a 4-year period and awarded $490,000 to train nurses and others to recognize mental health needs in those around us.
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) method, originating in Australia, teaches participants to recognize, respond, listen, and refer as needed to a person who is suffering a mental health crisis. The goal of this national training is to place MHFA training at the same level as CPR in our country. Presently 65% of USA residents have taken a CPR class and could recognize and respond to a cardiac need.
Only 1% so far have taken MHFA training, but the goal is to have everyone working in our two hospitals be able to respond to a colleague, patient, patient’s family member, or our own families when we see a mental health need arise. To date 400 people have undergone the training.
In 2025, Travis Air Force nurses and personnel will be added to the invited trainees. Dr. Catlin is hoping to work closely with nurses and security guards, so that prevention and early intervention are offered to patients prior to escalation. All (housekeeping, therapists, educators, office personnel, volunteers, students, nurses, physicians, etc.) are invited to the classes which will begin again in April 2025.