Helpers for Behavioral Health

Helpers for Behavioral Health teaches use of ‘Helping Conversations’ to support individuals who use tobacco move from uncertainty about quitting towards adoption of various cessation strategies. A Helping Conversation utilizes Motivational Interviewing (highlighting one's own motivation) and Active Listening skills to progress through steps of Awareness, Understanding, Helping, and Relating with an individual who uses tobacco, seeking to understand tobacco use and support attempts to quit while refraining from confrontation and control.

The Helpers for Behavioral Health app will provide users access to asynchronous (self-paced) trainings on the use of Helping Conversations and Medication Assisted Treatment for tobacco cessation. Also available will be access to demonstration videos of Helping Conversations, webinars on topics related to tobacco use and cessation, educational and promotional materials, links to treatment resources, and technical support services.

Helpers for Behavioral Health is a non-profit public health program researched, developed, and disseminated by the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Family & Community Medicine. Developed over three decades of research, the Helpers model has most recently been adapted for use with individuals who experience behavioral health disorders.