Mental Health First Aid

Music Minds Matter Founders, Spencer Townshend Hughes and Angela Rose Whaley, are both Mental Health First Aid instructors thanks to a grant provided by the Denver Music Advancement Fund and Denver Arts & Venues.

What is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. (Source: MentalHealthFirstAid.org)

“It really gives you the skills you need to identify - and ultimately help - someone in need.”
— Michelle Obama (trained)

Why Mental Health First Aid for the Music Community?

The Music Industry Research Association (MIRA), in partnership with the Princeton University Survey Research Center and MusiCares, has released their inaugural study in August 2018 on musicians to better understand the unique challenges and opportunities they face working in the music industry.

The findings of this survey show that, on average:

  • 50% of musicians report "feeling down, depressed, or hopeless" for at least several days in the last two weeks, compared with less than 25% of the wider adult population.

  • 12% of musicians also reported having "thoughts that you would be better off dead or hurting yourself in some way" during at least several days in the last two weeks, compared with 3.4% for the general population.*

  • Musicians make less than the average American

  • Face higher rates of discrimination and sexual harassment

  • Disproportionally struggle with mental health and substance abuse

Compared to the general U.S. adult population, musicians are:

  • Twice as likely to drink alcohol frequently (four or more times per week) than the population as a whole (31 percent versus 16 percent)

  • 2.8 times more likely to have used heroin or opium in the last month

  • 3.5 times more likely to have used meth in the last month

  • 5 times more likely to have used cocaine in the last month

  • 6.5 times more likely to have used ecstasy in the last month

  • 13.5 times more likely to have used LSD in the last month

See more mental health and music stats here.

“When a loved one has cancer, families rally around — they cook, clean, drive their loved ones to doctor’s appointments, and much more. But when someone is struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, or other mental conditions, family members are not sure what to do.”
— Lisa, Washington, D.C.

What Will I Learn?

  1. Risk factors and warning signs of mental health and substance use problems

  2. Information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and substance use

  3. A 5-step action plan to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or is in crisis

  4. Available evidence-based professional, peer and self-help resources

I’m interested in becoming certified! What’s the time commitment?

  1. Once we get you registered for a virtual MHFA course, you will then receive an email that has your participant processing guide (PPG), your MHFA participant manual, and will also be asked to complete 2 hours of pre-course work.

  2. After you complete your pre-course quiz, you will then participate in a 6-hour online interactive course.

  3. Once successfully completed, you will receive a certificate in Mental Health First Aid from your instructors that will be good for three years from the dated certificate.

STILL NEED MORE INFO?

No worries at all! PLEASE don’t hesitate reaching out at team@musicmindsmatter.org and we’ll get all your questions answered!

Let’s Be the Difference

Music Minds Matter is now available to host Mental Health First Aid trainings for our community. Register below for an upcoming Mental Health First Aid training, or Contact Us to host a private training.