(via Library Juice Academy)
Registration is now open for the Library Juice Academy online course “Assisting Patrons with Mental Disorders Across Library Settings”. It will take place from Monday, June 6, to Sunday, July 3. The instructor is Dawn Behrend, Instruction and Outreach Librarian at Lenoir-Rhyne University. More information, including the link to registration, is below.
The National Alliance of Mental Illness estimates that one in five children, teens, and adults suffer from a mental illness. With libraries functioning as a hub of the communities they serve, librarians must be prepared to serve patrons struggling with mental health issues. This course will provide librarians with the necessary knowledge and skills to address common mental disorders, as well as ways in which librarians can balance their own mental health needs in a demanding profession.
The instructor has a unique background in being a second career librarian after having worked as a psychologist for 20 years.
By the end of the course, students will be able to accomplish the following.
- develop a better understanding of the most common mental health issues such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder
- improve sensitivity in interacting with patrons with a mental disorder with an emphasis upon awareness of the stigma of mental illness, implementing library policies to address the needs of patrons with a mental disorder, and providing accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
- learn effective ways of managing interactions with patrons struggling with a mental disorder including: deescalating emotional clients; conflict resolution skills; maintaining appropriate boundaries; and managing requests for sensitive information about mental health topics
- work with community partners to develop potential referral sources, training opportunities, mental health programming, and assistance with crisis intervention
apply self-care strategies to balance the mental health needs of librarians who may be struggling with a mental health disorder and/or common job and life stressors
This course is worth 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs. The cost is $200.00
To register, please go here. Please note that the number of seats are limited. For a list of all the courses Library Juice Academy will offer in June, check here.