Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
For adults who interact with teens at any level
Community Announcements
| Posted on September 21, 2016
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE COURSE?
October 19, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Neighbor to Neighbor in Berrien Springs
WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS LEARN?
The course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling, –rather, participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five - step action plan:
Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support strategies
The Youth Mental Health First Aid USA curriculum is primarily focused on in formation participants can use to help adolescents and transition - age youth, ages 12 - 18
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WHO SHOULD TAKE THE COURSE?
The course is designed for adults who regularly interact with adolescents (teachers, school staff, coaches, youth group leaders, parents, etc.), but is being tested for appropriateness within older adolescent groups (16 and older) so as to encourage youth peer to peer interaction. In January 2013,it was recommended that teachers be equipped with Mental Health First Aid Training. Since 2008, the core Mental Health First Aid course has been successfully offered to hundreds of thousands of people across the USA, including hospital staff, employers and business leaders, faith communities, law enforcement, and the general public.
