Erinda Shah

"It's just like providing physical first-aid. The workshop teaches you what is mental health, how to check on your well-being, the different conditions, what kind of professional help is available, how to provide first-aid and de-stigmatise this topic," elaborated Shah, who has worked with UNICEF and WHO. She adds that a mental health first-aider is not a counsellor or therapist; their job is to support someone experiencing a crisis till the problem is resolved, and facilitate professional help. "The world is going through a bad time. Having this knowledge helps us recognise if someone is going through a tough time, and have a conversation with them," she sums up about the course which is open to workplaces and individuals.

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The online course focuses on different aspects of mental health. Representation image

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More than just Band-Aid

An earlier life-saver course facilitated by Talpade in session

Talpade, founder of Jumpstart Outdoors, which provides training in life-saving skills along with organising trips, shares that knowledge of first-aid allows a person to take crucial decisions when faced with an accident. "First-aid is the primary medical help you can offer a victim before professional help arrives, and in a lot of cases, it's life-saving. Having this knowledge allows you to gauge whether you can support the victim, or stop the situation from worsening rather than waiting for medical help for hours," shares the 39-year-old.

That is the reason Talpade has taken his basic life-saver course online. The eight-hour workshop, spread across four days, will deep-dive into long-term patient care, wound management, medico-legal issues and patient consent, among other topics, through lectures, practical scenarios, video assignments and hands-on training in Marathi, English and Hindi. "When we think of first-aid in an accident, we immediately think of the blood. Something as basic as keeping the airway open is missed, leading to the victim's death in minutes. We'll equip participants to aid someone in a systematic way, judging ABCDE — airway, breathing, circulation, neurological disability and environment," he explains.

Dhiren Talpade

Talpade adds that he will be using make-up at home to create videos and live instances of accidents, burns and stings, among other injuries. Attendees will receive a certificate at the end of the course. "At a time when hospitals are not as accessible as before, first-aid training can help not just victims, but also the helper to keep themselves safe," he adds.

On August 29, 30, September 5, 6
Call 9619793983
Cost Rs 1,250

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