Alissa Schramm Certified as Mental Health First Aider

December 2022 — Most of us would know how to help if we saw someone having a heart attack – we’d start CPR or call 9-1-1. But too few would know how to respond if we saw someone having a panic attack, contemplating suicide or showing signs of alcoholism.

Alissa Schramm has been exposed to many such scenarios during her long career, but she wanted to formalize her training and earn certification. She discovered Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training course that teaches participants to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. Alissa took online training and then a day-long class taught by social workers at an AllHealth Network office in Englewood.

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you support someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. It takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health or substance use. Training improves understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential issue and handle emergencies.