Class provides understanding of mental health disorders

A free day-long class designed to help individuals identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders is coming to Thompson Falls on Friday, May 10.

Mental Health First Aid will give community members valuable skills when the need arises to reach out and provide initial support for someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem, or who is experiencing a crisis.

The class will be taught by Alice Burchak and Mandie Reed, of the Montana State University Extension. It is offered as an activity of the Local Advisory Council, which formed in 2018 to support mental health services in Sanders County.

Mental Health First Aid will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Justice Courtroom, in the lower level of the Sanders County Courthouse. Registration is limited to the first 25 people.

Educators can receive 8 hours of continuing education. Nursing credits are also available.

Please sign up at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital website, http://www.cfvh.org, and go to "Upcoming Events," or contact Aria Mangan at 826-4669 or [email protected].