Silver City, NM (December 6, 2018) – Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) will be offering one Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in Silver City on Thursday, December 13, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Freeport McMoRan, Inc. has generously agreed to sponsor 10 registration fees (value of $25.00 each) for this training course. Registration is based on first come, first served availability.

This groundbreaking 8-hour training course will take place at the HMS Silver City Community Health Center (located at 1007 N. Pope Street) and gives people the tools to identify when someone might be struggling with a mental health or substance use problem and to connect them with appropriate support and resources when necessary.

1 in 5 Americans has a mental illness, but many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can be difficult to detect. For friends and family members, it can be hard to know when and how to step in. As a result, those in need of mental health services often do not get them until it is too late.

Just as CPR helps even those without clinical training assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support.

For more information or to participate in this Mental Health First Aid training contact Edith Lee, Chief Support Officer, at (575) 597-2738, or elee@hmsnm.org