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MHFA Accreditation Exam

MHFA First Aider Accreditation Exam
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Benjamin is a co-worker of yours. You started working for the same organisation at about the same time and you have always been impressed by his performance. He is friendly and gets along well with everybody. However, recently, things appear to have changed. He is late for work most mornings and although he tends to have an excuse related to his children or his partner, often you suspect he is recovering from the effects of alcohol the night before. He has been working very long hours, and even with the extra time his work has declined. After he is reprimanded by his supervisor about a report he turned in late, he is very upset.
 
 
 
* Which of the following ways would be best to approach him about what is going on?
 
Suggest you go and have an alcoholic drink together after work, since that might be a more comfortable setting for him and also loosen him up to talk.
 
Go to his home in the evening, as you have been there before and know where he lives.
 
Suggest you have a cup of tea or coffee together on your afternoon break.
 
It shouldn’t be you – you would talk to your boss and suggest he may have a mental health problem.
 
 
 
* When talking to him, what would be the best way to ask about the possibility of a mental health problem?
 
Tell him you are aware that he has been drinking and ask if it is because he is feeling depressed.
 
Focus on his work performance, noting that he shouldn’t need to work longer hours than you do when you perform the same tasks and ask if he thinks he is having problems.
 
Ask him if things are alright at home.
 
Focus on his mood and changes in behaviour you have noticed and tell him that you are concerned, and want to help.
 
 
 
* Benjamin admits that he has been feeling really low for a few months now. It’s getting more difficult to cover it up and it is beginning to cause troubles in his relationship with his partner. They fight so often that sometimes he thinks his partner would prefer it if he wasn’t there. He feels like a burden at home and at work. What’s the most important next step?
 
Tell him that depression can be treated and he should seek professional help right away.
 
Ask about suicidal thoughts.
 
Point out that he would probably feel a lot better if he wasn’t using so much alcohol.
 
Tell him that his partner is being unfair.
 
 
 
* After some discussion, Benjamin decides he needs to do something. You want to suggest professional help, since he is not sure where to start. Which of these suggestions would be the best to make?
 
Suggest that relationship counselling would be the best first step since his problems seem to stem from his relationship.
 
Suggest he sees his doctor and tell his doctor that he thinks he may have a mental health problem.
 
A drug and alcohol service would be the best place to go because without dealing with the alcohol problem the depression will not improve.
 
This does not seem to be a severe problem, so regular exercise and less alcohol should be all that is needed.
 
 
 
* Benjamin tells you a couple of weeks later that the doctor prescribed medication and talking therapy and he hasn’t yet filled the prescription because he doesn’t believe in medication. Which of the following might you say?
 
Nothing – it’s his right to refuse medication.
 
Ask him what he has heard about antidepressants and see if you are able to correct any misinformation he has, or find information on reputable websites to correct his misconceptions.
 
Tell him medication isn’t usually needed anyway.
 
Tell him the talking therapy won’t work if he doesn’t take medication.
 
 
 
Sharon is a friend of yours. A year ago she was in a terrible car accident. Both of her children were in the car, and all three of them received minor injuries. It was a terrible shock to everyone; however, they all seemed to make a good recovery. About a month ago, Sharon had another accident, this one much more minor. However, her reaction this time has been very different. She has refused to drive anywhere since and has cancelled her son’s driving lessons because she’s afraid of what might happen to him. She tells you she is having nightmares that her kids died. You go to her house one evening and hear her arguing loudly with her partner. You are concerned that Sharon is showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
 
 
 
* What would be the best approach if you wanted to have a conversation with her about your concerns?
 
Having a conversation at her house.
 
Going for a drive, so that she can begin to get used to being in a car again.
 
Getting some friends together to confront her about the changes in her behaviour and mood.
 
Asking if there is somewhere she would feel comfortable talking.
 
 
 
* What would be the best thing to say to get the conversation started?
 
Pointing out the impact that her limitations on driving are placing on the rest of the family, particularly her son.
 
Reminding her that many people have car accidents and most don’t let the event change their lives.
 
Telling her that it’s not uncommon for someone to have a delayed reaction to a serious trauma but that it’s best to get help sooner rather than later.
 
Telling her that the worst is over and she should be glad no one was seriously hurt.
 
 
 
* Sharon tentatively begins to talk about what she experienced and how she is now having flashbacks, as well as nightmares where her children were more seriously hurt. How would you respond?
 
Point out that it’s silly to worry about something that has already happened, when everything worked out fine.
 
Acknowledge that it must be very difficult and upsetting, and tell her that there is help available.
 
Tell her it’s time to get past it. She needs to get back behind the wheel and conquer her fears.
 
Encourage her to have an alcoholic drink to relax when she is feeling really wound up.
 
 
 
* Sharon agrees that she can’t keep going the way she is but she doesn’t like the idea of talking to someone about it. Which of these suggestions is the best one?
 
Encouraging her to talk to a support group instead, perhaps online where it won’t be as confrontational.
 
Offering to go along with her to an appointment where she could at least get more information about what treatment might involve.
 
Doing nothing, as it is ultimately her decision.
 
Telling her partner about the conversation.
 
 
 
* Sharon sees her doctor but is very upset to learn that she won’t be able to start seeing a psychologist for several weeks. What would you suggest she do to cope in the meantime?
 
Make a head start by telling you what she remembers about the accident until it’s not so hard to talk about anymore.
 
Try to do things to take care of herself such as regular gentle exercise, getting quality sleep and avoiding alcohol and other drugs.
 
Even if it’s difficult, spend a few minutes a day sitting in the car until she is not so afraid anymore.
 
Going on a holiday.
 
 
 
* True or False: If someone is having a panic attack they should breathe into a paper bag
 
True
 
False
 
 
 
* True or False: Depression is the most common mental illness amongst women in their fifties.
 
True
 
False
 
 
 
* True or False: Depression and anxiety can occur together and may also be associated with alcohol use problems.
 
True
 
False
 
 
 
* True or False: Episodes of psychosis can be brought on by stress or substance use, or may not have an obvious trigger.
 
True
 
False
 
 
 
* True or False: A previous suicide attempt is a major risk factor for suicide.
 
True
 
False