Youth Mental Health First Aid: 2-Day Session (Must Attend Both Days)

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)

Instructor Name: Maria Suarez (she/her) - Community Teen Director, YMCA of WNC

Contact Info: [email protected].

Please note: The full training is spread out over two days. You must register for both days to receive the full training and three year certificate.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Youth Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention public education program. It teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a youth who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services.

Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Mental Health First Aid was created in Australia in 2000 by Betty Kitchener, an educator and mental health consumer, and Professor Tony Jorm, a mental health researcher. In 2008, the National Council, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health brought Mental Health First Aid to the United States.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the purpose of Youth Mental Health First Aid and the role of the Youth Mental Health First Aider.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges that may impact youth.
• Explain the impact of traumatic experiences and the role of resilience on adolescent development.
• Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to non-crisis situations.
• Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to crisis situations.
• Choose appropriate methods for self-care following the application of Youth Mental Health First Aid in a crisis or non-crisis situation.

Host or Publisher AmeriHealth Caritas NC -Asheville Wellness Center