Feedback Report 2022

It is with great pleasure that we bring to you the first MHFA India Feedback Report 2022. We hope this report serves as a reflection of the mental health education that we have been championing since our inception in 2017. For MHFA India, this report is just a beginning. As part of a sustained effort to monitor our work and its impact, we aim to continue the effort of generating the Feedback Report annually. 

At MHFA India, our efforts are focussed on imparting knowledge about mental health challenges as well as practical skills that empower individuals to provide support. To meet this objective, MHFA India will need to continually analyse our strengths and weaknesses. We will carry out a sustainable and effective evaluation system. This yearly report is part of such an analysis. We have included the feedback results of two of the critical courses we provide, the Blended Online Mental Health First Aid course and the MHFA for the Suicidal Person.

The prevalence of mental illnesses is high in India (WHO, 2021). India accounts for the highest suicide rate in southeast Asia. The exponentially rising suicide rate of India, as evident from the graph Fig l, is a serious concern that has been long left unaddressed. Despite these facts pointing to the urgent need to address the elephant in the room, stigma still runs rampant, preventing people from seeking appropriate help for mental health conditions, including experiencing suicidal thoughts. India needs a system of mental health services that supports every individual throughout their mental health journey to total recovery. 

Mental Health First Aid is one of the initial and crucial components that a health system can adopt to champion mental illness prevention and early detection. The MHFA India courses are designed to be the first step towards empowering people with mental health knowledge, build practical skills, and create shifts in attitudes. MHFA India envisions communities where mental health understanding and conversation is normalised and supportive actions and help seeking are encouraged.    Read more...