ALGEE Action Plan

What does ALGEE stand for?

• AAlert, Location, Group, Emergency, Education
• BAssessment, Listen, Guide, Encourage, Education and Evaluation
• CAssess, Label, Give, Encourage, Emergency
• DApproach/Assess, Listen, Give support, Encourage professional help, Encourage self-help✓

Answer: ALGEE is the Mental Health First Aid action plan: Approach/Assess, Listen, Give support, Encourage professional help, Encourage self-help.

What is the first step in ALGEE - 'Approach/Assess'?

• ACall the emergency services straight away before speaking to the person at all
• BTell colleagues about the person's problems so that everyone knows to be careful
• CSafely approach the person, assess whether they are in immediate danger✓
• DLeave them alone until they approach you

Answer: Approach/Assess involves approaching safely, checking for immediate risk or danger, and ensuring safety before proceeding.

What does 'active listening' involve in the 'Listen' step?

• AHearing the words in silence, without nodding, reflecting back or responding to the person
• BListening for the positive parts of what is said, and steering the person away from the rest
• CPlanning what you are going to say next while the person is still talking, so you have a reply ready
• DFocused attention without judgement, reflecting back what you hear, validating feelings✓

Answer: Active listening involves full attention, reflecting back the person's words, validating their emotions, and showing empathy without judgement.

What should you NOT do when listening to someone in distress?

• AMaintain eye contact and keep an open, relaxed body position
• BImmediately offer advice or minimise their concerns✓
• CLet them talk at their own pace without hurrying them along
• DUse a tone of voice that conveys empathy and genuine interest

Answer: Avoid immediately offering advice, minimising feelings, or showing judgement. Instead, listen, validate, and let them express themselves.

What does 'Give support' in ALGEE involve?

• AMaking them feel better immediately
• BSuggesting they weren't really struggling
• COffering practical help, validation, and staying with them✓
• DTelling them what to do

Answer: Give support by offering practical help, validation of their experience, emotional support, and ensuring safety.

What kind of practical support can you offer someone experiencing mental health crisis?

• ADiagnose their condition
• BTell the rest of the team about it straight away, so that colleagues can keep an eye on the person
• CHelp them contact support services, offer to stay with them, provide practical assistance✓
• DGive them advice on medication

Answer: Practical support includes helping them access professional services, being present, offering basic care (food, water, safety), and coordinating with others.

What is the goal of 'Encourage professional help' in ALGEE?

• AMake the decisions for them about which service they should use and when
• BSupport them in accessing appropriate professional mental health care✓
• CForce them to see a therapist by booking the appointment for them yourself
• DSuggest that their problems are not serious enough to bother a professional with

Answer: Encourage professional help by supporting (not forcing) them to access appropriate services, providing information about options, and offering assistance.

What professional services might you encourage someone to access?

• AOnly the emergency services, whatever the level of distress involved
• BProfessional services are of little help, so it is better to rely on friends and family
• CPsychiatric services and nothing else
• DGP, counselling, therapy, crisis teams, support groups✓

Answer: Professional options include GP assessment, counselling, psychotherapy, NHS mental health services, crisis teams, and support organisations.

What does 'Encourage self-help' in ALGEE mean?

• ASupport them in developing coping strategies, lifestyle changes, and self-support activities✓
• BTell them that self-help can replace the need for professional help
• CDo their self-care tasks for them
• DIgnore their need for support

Answer: Encourage self-help by supporting healthy coping strategies, exercise, sleep, social connection, and self-management techniques.

What self-help strategies might you encourage?

• AIgnoring the problem
• BOnly professional interventions work, so there is no point in changing anything else in daily life
• CIsolation and avoidance
• DExercise, sleep, social connection, hobbies, relaxation techniques, limiting alcohol✓

Answer: Self-help strategies include physical activity, good sleep, social support, meaningful activities, relaxation, and reducing substance use.

How should you approach someone you're concerned about using ALGEE?

• AWith respect, expressing concern, without judgement✓
• BThrough a post on social media asking how they are doing
• CThrough a text message only, so that neither of you has to face the other
• DAccusingly, demanding that they get help before they are allowed back to work

Answer: Approach with genuine concern, respect for their autonomy, and non-judgement. Choose a private, calm setting.

Can you use ALGEE with someone who is suicidal?

• AYes, ALGEE applies across all mental health situations including suicidal crises✓
• BNo, ALGEE applies only in non-emergency situations
• COnly trained professionals are permitted to talk to someone who is feeling suicidal
• DOnly partly; several of the steps do not apply when someone is thinking about suicide

Answer: ALGEE is applicable in all mental health crises, including suicide situations. It provides a framework for initial supportive response.

What should you do if someone refuses professional help during the ALGEE process?

• ATell other people about it without asking for their consent
• BForce them to go
• CAbandon them
• DRespect their autonomy while continuing to offer support and information✓

Answer: Respect their right to refuse while continuing support, offering information, and reassessing if safety changes.

How long should the 'Listen' phase last?

• ALess than 30 seconds, so that the conversation does not become awkward
• BExactly 5 minutes
• CA few seconds
• DAs long as needed for them to express themselves✓

Answer: Allow as much time as needed for the person to share their experience without rushing them.

What is 'reflective listening' in the ALGEE Listen step?

• AMirroring their body language exactly, movement for movement
• BRepeating back what someone said to confirm understanding✓
• CHolding up a mirror so that they can see for themselves how upset they look
• DReflecting on your own feelings about what you have been told, and describing them

Answer: Reflective listening involves paraphrasing what the person said to confirm understanding and show you're engaged.

What is 'unconditional positive regard' in supporting someone?

• ARefraining from asking them personal questions
• BAccepting the person without judgement, regardless of their thoughts or behaviours✓
• CAgreeing with everything the person says, even when you are certain that they are mistaken
• DIgnoring behaviour that is causing harm, and not raising it with the person afterwards

Answer: Unconditional positive regard means accepting and valuing the person while possibly challenging unhelpful thoughts or behaviours.

What is the benefit of using the ALGEE framework?

• AIt replaces professional care
• BIt provides a structured, evidence-based approach to supporting someone in crisis✓
• CIt gives a diagnosis for the person
• DIt is designed for trained mental health professionals

Answer: ALGEE provides a structured, evidence-based framework that any trained person can use to offer first aid support in mental health crises.

How should you handle confidentiality when using ALGEE?

• AKeep information confidential unless safety is at serious risk✓
• BAlways keep everything secret, even when the person is in danger of serious harm
• CShare information without asking permission
• DTell everyone about the person's problems

Answer: Maintain confidentiality while recognising that safety takes precedence. Explain what information may need to be shared.

Can ALGEE be used for ongoing support or only for crises?

• AFor acute crises, but not for ordinary day-to-day conversations
• BIt can be adapted for both crisis support and ongoing support✓
• CBy clinicians in both cases, rather than by first aiders
• DFor workplace issues, but not in family, friendship or social settings

Answer: ALGEE can be adapted as a framework for various mental health situations, both acute and ongoing.

What is your role as a Mental Health First Aider using ALGEE?

• APrescribe treatment and advise on which medication would suit the person best
• BDiagnose the mental health condition so the person knows what they are dealing with
• CProvide initial supportive response and help connect to professional care✓
• DManage their ongoing treatment and review the plan with them from week to week

Answer: As an MHFA, you provide initial support and help someone access professional care - you are not providing clinical treatment.