BILL REQ. #:  H-5509.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/12/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to mental health first aid; adding a new section to chapter 71.24 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that a lack of information about mental health problems amongst the general public leads to stigmatizing attitudes and prevents people from seeking help early and seeking the best sort of help. It also prevents people from providing support to family members, friends, and colleagues because they might not know what to do. This lack of knowledge about mental health problems limits the initial accessibility of evidence-based treatments and leads to a lack of support for people with a mental disorder from family, friends, and other members of the community.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 71.24 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall make available a one-time mental health train the trainer first aid course that trains members of the public in how to give initial help in mental health crisis situations and to support people developing mental health problems. The mental health first aid course will provide information about depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorder. Following completion of the mental health first aid course, participants will know how to train others to recognize the symptoms of these mental disorders; the possible causes or risk factors for these disorders; the evidence-based medical, psychological, and alternative treatments available; how to give appropriate initial help and support to a person suffering one of these disorders; and how to take appropriate action if a crisis situation arises involving suicidal behavior, panic attack, stress reaction to trauma, or threatening psychotic behavior. The mental health first aid course shall include twelve hours of instruction and shall be based on the program created by the department of psychiatry, University of Melbourne in Australia.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.