[ Browse by Service Category : Mental Health Information/Education : Sub-Topics of Mental Health Related Prevention Programs (3) ]
Body Image Education
Programs that raise awareness and educate the community about body image and eating issues while promoting normal eating, active living, self-acceptance, and respect and appreciation for size diversity. "Body image" refers to a person's perception of his or her own physical appearance. People with a poor body image perceive their own body as being unattractive or even repulsive to others while people with a good body image, or positive "body acceptance", either see themselves as attractive to others, or are willing accept their body as it is. Concerns about body image have led to poor self-esteem, reluctance to participate in physical activities, preoccupation with weight and dieting, and an increase in the likelihood of developing an eating disorder.
Mental Health First Aid Training
A public education program that offers courses which teach people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorder in people with whom they interact. The symptoms of mental illness can be difficult to detect. Even when friends and family of someone who appears to be developing mental illness can tell that something is amiss, they may not know how to intervene or direct the person to proper treatment – which means that all too often, those in need of mental health services do not get them until it is too late. The training introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs, builds understanding of their impact, and provides an overview of common treatments. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis, select appropriate interventions, provide initial help and connect people to professional, peer and social supports as well as self-help resources. A wide variety of people may find the course of value including teachers, first responders, law enforcement personnel, veterans and people who want to be prepared, in general, to help their neighbours, children, parents and friends and others.
Suicide Prevention Programs
Programs that attempt to reduce the incidence of suicide through a variety of educational interventions which have the objective of exploring alternatives to self-harm or self-destruction. Suicide prevention programs help people understand the nature of the problem; the risk factors and warning signs; and sources for treatment and support. Included are prevention programs that address specific target populations as well as those that are intended to reach the community at large. Delivery formats may include printed materials, videos or websites that address the subject and presentations in schools and agencies and to family groups.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.