Assessing Mental Health First Aid Skills Using Simulated Patients

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate mental health first aid (MHFA) skills using simulated patients and to compare self-reported confidence in providing MHFA with performance during simulated patient roleplays. Methods. Pharmacy students self-evaluated their confidence in providing MHFA post-training. Two mental health vignettes and an assessment rubric based on the MHFA Action Plan were developed to assess students' observed MHFA skills during audio-recorded simulated patient roleplays.Results. There were 163 students who completed the MHFA training, of which 88% completed selfevaluations. There were 84% to 98% of students who self-reported that they agreed or strongly agreed they were confident providing MHFA. Postnatal depression (PND) and suicide vignettes were randomly assigned to 36 students. More students participating in the PND roleplay took appropriate actions, compared to those participating in the suicide role-play. However, more students participating in the suicide role play assessed alcohol and/or drug use. Ten (71%) participants in the PND roleplay and six (40%) in the suicide roleplay either avoided using suicide-specific terminology completely or used multiple terms rendering their inquiry unclear. Conclusion. Self-evaluated confidence levels in providing MHFA did not always reflect observed performance. Students had difficulty addressing suicide with only half passing the suicide vignette and many avoiding suicide-specific terminology. This indicates that both self-reported and observed behaviors should be used for post-training assessments.

Evaluation of participant reluctance, confidence, and self-reported behaviors since being trained in a pharmacy Mental Health First Aid initiative

“…Confidence in performing MHFA skills was assessed using seven items and based on established MHFA self-evaluation questions. [6,33] Confidence items focused on the ALGEE behaviors and included "Ask someone if they are thinking about suicide" and "Encourage someone experiencing a mental health crisis to seek professional help." Use of MHFA behaviors was assessed using 9-items based on the MHFA training and other studies.…”

“…Use of MHFA behaviors was assessed using 9-items based on the MHFA training and other studies. [6,22,33] For these self-reported behaviors, participants selected if they had done them 0,1,2,3, 4 or more times, or not applicable. The self-reported behaviors included both thoughts like "Thought someone's behavior might indicate they are having suicidal thoughts" and behaviors like "Asked someone if they are considering suicide" and "Referred someone to appropriate resources because you were concerned they were considering suicide.…”

Psychiatric Pharmacy: New Role of Pharmacists in Mental Health

“…Globally, the International Pharmaceutical Federation has urged members to include pharmacists as part of their "human resource development policy" so that "an increase by 20% of service coverage for severe mental disorders can be achieved." [37]. Murphy et.al, 2016 says pharmacists are not practicing to their full scope of practice in mental illness and addictions care for several reasons including limitations within the work environment and lack of structures and processes in place to be fully engaged as health care professionals [38].…”

Evaluation of mental health training for community pharmacy staff members and consumers

“…The responses to the vignette were hypothetical and may not reflect actual practices. Also, the results relied solely on self‐report while actual behaviours may differ 19 …”