MY ROLE/WORK AS A CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADOR.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a desire to help people. But you may ask, why an CMHA?

When the world was shut down, I saw how everyone’s mental state was being affected.

Some were affected more than others. And I asked the Lord to equip me to help and the

Lord directed me in Oct. 2020, to take courses to become an CMHA. This area was still

connected to the area of psychology and to my journey to becoming an LPC. The classes

are taught by a psychologist and you learn about the Real Support Framework (REAL-SF)

It’s 6 simple steps to follow that is applicable in almost any situation

Recognize with someone who is having a mental health crisis

Engage people in a friendly and non-threatening manner

Assist if there is an acute crisis happening at the time

Listen to them and give them a friendly ear to talk problems through

with

Signpost them to professional help, where appropriate

Follow-up with them at a later point

This course will be helpful if anyone wants to help people struggling with mental health; and if

they want to promote better mental health in our society.

What is an Ambassador?

What it’s NOT:

• You don’t have to be a mental health professional or an expert; and you aren’t

there to provide treatment!

• AMBASSADORS PASS INDIVIDUALS ON TO THE PROFESSIONALS.

Who is it?

• Someone who wants to promote good mental health;

• Someone who is willing to stand up and talk about it;

• Someone who is willing to be there when someone needs to talk; it doesn’t

require expertise, but it does require courage;

• Someone who desires to help people.

What do they do?

• Provide people with someone to talk to when they need it;

• Know what sources of support are available and signposting people to them;

• Be a role model;

• Encourage people to talk about mental health, take a lead in promoting such

discussions.

Annette Harris,

Certified Mental Health Ambassador

Author, 'Surviving A Silenced Heartbeat'

CEO of GetcaughtinANet, Inc.

Host of MBSWANET (afternoons) and MBSAD (evenings)