Emergence Health Network offers ‘potential lifesaving’ training this weekend

Emergence Health Network is working to battle the negative stigma of mental health illness.

It is hosting what it calls a first-of-its-kind event in El Paso — a Mental Health First Aid Training Blitz. Emergence will host ten eight-hour training courses at various locations across the city.

“If we can really learn about mental illness and what someone deals with when they have a mental illness, then you and I can better help them,” said Noreen Jaramillo, director of communications for Emergence Health Network.

The class will teach individuals about the various mental health illnesses, how to identify warning signs, how to identify when someone is in a crisis and how to get help.

“The way we want our community to think about this is like CPR. If someone is having a heart attack, you would hope that someone nearby is trained in CPR to help this individual until an ambulance can get there,” Jaramillo said.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year.

Jaramillo said many times people living with a mental health illness do not get the medical attention they need.

The negative stigma of mental health illness and the lack of conversations may hold people back from seeking help.

“It’s OK to talk aboUT it and it’s OK to say ‘you know what, let’s get you the help that you need,’ it’s like any other medical condition,” Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo said agencies like the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and school district employees have taken the free course.

The training is offered through out the year.

To register for the Mental Health First Aid Training Blitz this Saturday, click here.