Mental Health First-Aid

Dr. Gary Blau, Chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services, joined Dr. Greene this month to discuss his work in the field of mental health. Among other issues, Dr. Blau discusses the alarmingly high rate of children in need of mental health services and the much lower rate of care available. He recommends not only expanding the number of health care providers, but also expanding the thinking of who could be helpful in treating these issues. Along these lines, he introduces the idea of mental health first-aid as a critical first step in providing appropriate services to children with mental health needs. In addition, Dr. Blau discusses the importance of a strength-based treatment model and the feasibility of family-driven, youth-guided service provision.