Powerful questions and many thought-provoking facts and statistics were discussed recently at Ross Medical Education Port Huron campus. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, Ms. Amy Smith, Assistant Division Director, St. Clair County Community Mental Health, was on campus to speak to the students in the Medical Assistant program and Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration program. In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month, Ms. Smith was invited to campus to speak with students regarding the stigma associated with suicide and to help create awareness surrounding suicide prevention.
As one would imagine, such an intense topic could pose difficult for some to address. However, Ms. Smith spoke with a sense of ease and comfort while discussing this very sensitive subject matter. During the presentation, various facts and statistics were discussed such as:
- One in four Americans will experience a mental illness at some point in their lives
- A person is more likely to encounter an individual in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack
- Mental disorders are more common than heart disease and cancer combined
- Every eleven minutes someone dies from suicide
Throughout Ms. Smith’s presentation, the students were very engaged and quite emotional; the information provided made a lasting impact. Angie Wilcynski, Medical Assistant Instructor, commented, “it is extremely important for future medical professionals to have a strong understanding of signs they should watch for to determine if a patient is experiencing any type of emotional issues. Ms. Smith’s presentation was invaluable and something our students will certainly think about when they are out working in the field.” This statement was validated as student’s listened intently to Ms. Smith describe the warning signs people should watch for, as well as various risk factors and different ways to help a person in need.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Amy handed out a “Mental Health First Aid” brochure which included a wealth of information related to support, access lines, and training seminars presented by the St. Clair County Mental Health.
To learn more about St. Clair County Community Mental Health and the services they offer, visit their Facebook page or their website at www.scccmh.org.