ALGEE — the mental-health first-aid framework
Lesson 2 of 5 in Mental Health First Aid for PSWs · 24 minutes
ALGEE is a well-known action plan from Mental Health First Aid training. It's not therapy — it's like first aid for a mental-health crisis. This lesson walks through each step.
What you'll learn
- Memorize the five steps of ALGEE
- Apply ALGEE to a depression scenario
- Apply ALGEE to a suicidal-ideation scenario
- Recognize the limits — when to escalate to nursing or 911
From the lesson
ALGEE is a well-known action plan from Mental Health First Aid training in countries such as the United States. The official Canadian course (from the Mental Health Commission of Canada, offered through Opening Minds) uses a very similar plan called ALGES, where the last step is self-care for the helper — you'll find self-care in Lesson 4. This course is not the official Mental Health First Aid course, and it does not give you a Mental Health First Aid certificate. The acronym ALGEE stands for: Approach, Listen, Give support, Encourage professional help, Encourage other supports. It applies to depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicide risk, substance crisis, and acute distress. PSWs aren't…