THOMASVILLE — State officials held several classes recently with local medical providers and law enforcement designed to teach them how to identify and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse.

Jennifer Dunn, regional services administrator with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) held two Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) classes on May 7 and 9 with staff from Archbold Medical Center, Georgia Pines and the Thomasville Police Department.

Classes are designed to teach participants how to identify risk factors and warning signs of mental illness and substance abuse.

By engaging in experiential activities, participants are taught how to apply a five-step strategy to assist individuals who experience symptoms of mental illness.

Topics covered in the training include identifying common symptoms and instructions on how to interact with affected individuals and connect them with appropriate care.

“The course teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in our community,” Dunn said. “It also helps participants be prepared when a mental health crisis occurs and knowing what the next steps are and how to offer help to those who may feel alone.”

MHFA has been shown to increase participants’ confidence in helping affected individuals.

Additionally, the training has been shown to decrease the “social distance” that arises from stigmas surrounding mental illness.

The strategies learned during the eight-hour training are designed to provide initial help to an individual experiencing symptoms of a mental illness until family or professional support is available.

Anyone can be trained in MHFA, and the class is designed for faith leaders, employers and community members as well as law enforcement, hospital staff, and other first responders.

Organizations interested in taking the class can visit MentalHealthFirstAid.org or contact Dunn at (229) 977-4885.

More than 5,000 Georgians have received MHFA training.

May is recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Month, and the City of Thomasville recognized it as such in a proclamation three weeks ago.

Across the State of Georgia, 2.3 million people experience mental illness annually, and 1,000 die by suicide.