Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: Mental & Physical Health
In your life, you are more likely to see a person having a panic attack than you are to see someone having a heart attack. Though many of us know how to properly respond to a heart attack, few of us know what to do when confronted with someone having mental or emotional crises. A community based model called Mental Health First Aid is being used across the nation and world to teach people how to address a person in crisis by training a person a five step process for response. Mental Health First Aid does not replace emergency care; instead it is intended to be used by a first responder before medical care arrives.
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House Bill 355 Sponsor Statement: Mental Health First Aid Training
Link to the House Bill 355 sponsor statement from the office of Representative Geran Tarr
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NEWS: Rep. Tarr Introduces Mental Health First Aid Legislation
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) proposed legislation (HB355) to authorize the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to administer a Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program and accompanying grants. Youth Mental Health First Aid training teaches trainees to detect mental illnesses and substance abuse issues and how to respond effectively to them.
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Rep. Tarr Action Alert: I need your help making sure that your voices are heard!
School Vouchers
We need your voice at the House Education Committee meeting this Friday, February 7th, at 8 a.m. in the State Capitol Building – in person or by phone.
The Education Committee is going to discuss the school voucher resolution, HJR 1, which would allow the public to vote to amend the Alaska Constitution. This amendment sanctions the state to take public school funding and use it for private and religious schools. This means that your dollars would be funding private schools, not your local public schools.
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ADVISORY: Mental Health First Aid Presentation Thursday
JUNEAU – Tomorrow, Representative Geran Tarr, Representative Shelley Hughes, Representative Ben Nageak, Alaska Primary Care Association, Mat-Su Health Foundation, and Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority will host an informational “lunch and learn” event on Mental Health First Aid—a low-cost, community-based way to help those suffering from an emotional or mental crisis. Mental Health First Aid can lower both emotional and financial burdens statewide through educating community members on how they can effectively address mental illness.
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