Blueprint for Learning MH101

Last month in May, I attended Blueprint for Learning MH101 Training. The training came my way through a fellow Community Development Practitioner and HEART Change Agent who forwarded an email and highly recommended the training. I signed up and to be honest forgot about it until a reminder email came through. Being a busy time with work I thought for a moment about canceling, however, I saw the opportunity to up-skill and the certification offered - both things that I am working towards this year for my professional development. So I put aside work for a day and drove to Māngere bright and early for a full day of training.

Community Learning

When I got there I was pleasantly surprised to see two other Tāmaki community workers - Roxanne and Lynette from Tāmaki Community Development Trust. It is always comforting to know others at training and to be able to catch up in the breaks. Two facilitators Erica Hodgson and Synthia Dash took us through a comprehensive workbook with real experiences and examples. We were encouraged to use the workshop for our own well-being as much as for those people we engage within our professional practice. Firstly we worked through Te Whare Tapa Wha, something that I enjoy doing and a good reminder to uphold and prioritise my own wellbeing. We also learned ways to maintain mental health and wellbeing, for me I definitely could do with more sleep!

Recognise, Relate, Respond

The training was organised into three parts - Recognise, Relate and Respond. The facilitators walked us through each part and we worked in groups to unpack scenarios. I enjoyed doing the group work and hearing from others with a wide range of skill sets. Overall I found the training very informative on common mental health illnesses and how to recognise, relate and respond if confronted with a situation. I was particularly interested in the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experience) study that was talked about by the facilitators. I have since read a bit more about this study and I am interested in the resilience of those people who have high ACEs scores yet have gone on to have good outcomes as an adult. 

Being a community worker it is quite common to be the first response for people showing signs of mental illness. The more I know the better I can help others. HEART is hoping to host this training next year, however, go to https://www.mh101.co.nz/ to find a course at a suitable time for you.

Candace Weir

Community Development Practitioner