11h CPD
Mental Health Crisis - Practical Responses Seminar
Two-Day Seminar for Nurses, Midwives and Other Healthcare Professionals
Details
Melbourne
23 - 24 Apr 2020
23 - 24 Apr 2020
Oaks On Collins
480 Collins St
Melbourne VIC3000
Melbourne VIC3000
Change Date
Price
$559.00
Book Online Now Why Attend
Every year, an estimated one in five Australians will experience a mental health disorder, and some of them will go through a mental health crisis. These people will pass through the healthcare system and you may encounter them, even if you do not work in a mental health care setting. Will you be ready to respond to their health needs? Attend this seminar to make a difference in your practice. Learn about:
- What is a mental health crisis?
- How can we help someone deal with a panic attack?
- What is the role of a crisis plan?
- How can we respond to patients if their crisis involves a suicide risk?
- Is there a difference between severe psychotic episodes and psychosis?
- And much more...
Need for Program
Every year, many Australians experience a mental health crisis. A lot of them may present to healthcare professionals who do not have a mental health background and who may be under-equipped to respond. Because of this, there is a need for nurses and other healthcare professionals to identify and clearly understand mental health crises and to update their knowledge on the best way to manage a person with these conditions.
Purpose of Program
This program aims to provide nurses and other healthcare professionals with up-to-date education about mental illness that relates to mental health crises of different causes and presentations and how to respond to them.
Your Learning Outcomes
- Confidently perform mental health assessments
- Understand the different causes of mental health crises and outline the best way to respond to them using practical methods
- Develop therapeutic relationships when caring for those going through a mental health crisis
- Support carers of individuals going through a mental health crisis
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Schedule
Day One
8:30am - Registration and Refreshments
9:00am
What Is a Mental Health Crisis?
In this introductory session, we will explore the definition of a mental health crisis. This will enable you to have clarity on ascertaining the level of urgency in your response to care. It discusses:
- What typical situations may lead to a mental health crisis?
- What is the main principle when responding to a mental health crisis?
- What does sectioning mean?
9:30am
Acute Mental Health Assessment in a Crisis
It is essential that all nurses are confident to deal with a mental health crisis in any health setting. This practical session looks at how to assess an acutely unwell person with a mental health disorder. It includes:
- Should a physical assessment precede a mental health assessment?
- What are the basic principles of mental health assessment tools?
- Does an assessment vary according to the severity of the crisis?
10:45am - Morning Tea
11:15am
Supporting Carers and the Role of Crisis Plans
Although most people with mental health conditions may not experience a crisis, in some individuals it may be an omnipresent threat. For families and carers, the possibility of a mental health crisis can weigh heavily on day-to-day life creating anticipatory anxiety. Having a back-up plan is essential. This session looks at:
- What is the role of health professionals in supporting carers in the community?
- What is included in a crisis plan?
- Are there any online support systems for carers of people with mental health crises?
12:00pm
Prevention Is Better than Crisis!
Although it is not always possible to predict when a person may experience a mental health crisis, an appropriate plan of care should assist in diverting such an episode. This session discusses different scenarios and describes strategies for prevention. It includes:
- Patient engagement to promote adherence to treatment programs
- Preventing ‘medication holidays’
- Triggers and warning signs and systems
- Responding to carers who observe changes in behaviour
- Avoiding negative attitudes and limiting capacity to interact
1:00pm - Lunch and Networking
2:00pm
Developing Therapeutic Relationships in a Time of Crisis
Effective communication is known to help in a time of crisis. Therapeutic communication that is appropriate to the situation can empower all involved to minimise any negative impacts from the incident onto the individual. In this highly interactive workshop session, you will learn how to build therapeutic relationship skills. It includes:
- Interactive scenarios based on previous sessions
- Active listening and asking the right questions
3:00pm - Afternoon Tea
3:30pm
Fleeing from your Mind: Dealing with Panic Attacks
Panic attacks manifest as a crisis because the brain initiates the fight and flight response. This final session of day one focuses on a common, but debilitating, phenomena of the mind. It discusses:
- What is the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack?
- What are the triggers and symptoms?
- What are the long-term consequences of repeated panic attacks?
- What are the best-evidenced approaches to panic attacks?
4:30pm - Close of Day One of Seminar
Day Two
9:00am - Commencement of Day Two
9:00am
Crisis with Drug and Alcohol Use
The use of alcohol, street and other drugs can be a cause of mental health crises, as well as a symptom of an impending crisis. Even if a person is not known to have a diagnosis of substance use these can complicate symptoms of mental health conditions. This session will look at:
- What type of crisis can occur?
- What is now known about ‘dual diagnosis’ and self-medication?
- What approach is taken to manage a crisis involving drugs and alcohol?
- What are the strategies to prevent a crisis?
9:45am
Severe Psychotic Episodes
Heavy drug and alcohol misuse has the potential to cause severe psychotic episodes. This session will discuss a mental health disorder that has been stigmatised by society. It includes:
- What are the symptoms of a severe psychotic episode?
- Is there a difference between a severe psychotic episode and psychosis?
- What are the available treatments for someone who goes through severe psychotic episodes?
10:45am - Morning Tea
11:15am
If a Crisis Involves a Suicide Risk
Although there are often warning signs that a person is contemplating suicide, this is not always the case. In this interactive session, we will focus on:
- Identification of those at impending risk
- The care of a person who has just intentionally tried to take their own life and survived
- Overcoming the taboos associated with talking about suicide
12:15pm
Mental Health Resources
This session will discuss the roles of different types of mental health resources. It includes:
- Crisis assessment and treatment teams (CATT) in different states
- Crisis hotlines and support chats
- Community mental health programs
- Other mental health resources, including for those in rural areas
1:00pm - Lunch and Networking
2:00pm
Mental Health and Violence
People living with mental health issues have been stereotyped as being capable of violence against others. In reality, they are more likely to have acts of violence committed against them. This session will discuss:
- Is there any evidence to suggest that mental health disorders usually cause violent behaviour?
- Why are people with mental health issues at higher risk of becoming a victim of violence?
3:00pm - Afternoon Tea and Coffee
3:15pm
Pharmacological Causes of Mental Health Crises
Some medicines can have unwanted side effects or cause adverse events that result in acute mental crises. These are not necessarily psychotherapeutic medicine. Topics include:
- Do you know which medicines the person is taking and their risks?
- What co-occurring conditions could be treated with medicines that can cause mental health crisis?
4:15pm - Close of Seminar and Evaluations
Geoffrey Ahern
Geoffrey Ahern is a senior mental health clinician and educator who splits his time between working with people in a mental health crisis in the ED setting and working proactively to educate other health professionals and the community about how to better understand mental health problems, as well as substance use and addiction. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience in emergency and trauma, rural nursing, alcohol and other drug counselling, and psychiatric nursing across both the public and private sectors. He holds a masters of health science (mental health and addiction). Geoff is particularly fascinated by the impact that exercise, nutrition, community, meaning and purpose, and practices like yoga have on a person’s mental health, as well as living a simple life of reflection, contentment and wonderment. Read More
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Mental Health Crisis - Practical Responses Seminar
Melbourne