NE Youth Mental Health First Aid 4/1/24 (blended)
Online (ACA, New England's Zoom)
Monday, April 01, 2024
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
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Eastern Standard Time
As of 3/8/24 this course is FULL and cannot accept any additional registrations.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (pre-work and live virtual course)
This is an 8-hour education program that teaches partcipants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18.Youth Mental Health First Aid uses group activity, role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The course covers:
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and substance use challenges in this age group.
- How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.
- How to connect the youth with help.
- Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care and the impact of social media and bullying.
This course is offered in a two-part format and both components must be completed to earn your certification:
- 2.5 hours of pre-work must be completed by Thursday, March 28
- 5.5 hour live, virtual course from 9:00 am – 2:30 pm on Monday, April 1
What will participants learn? This 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.The Youth Mental Health First Aid USA curriculum is primarily focused on information participants can use to help adolescents and transition-age youth, ages 8-18.
Who should take this course? The course is designed for any adults who regularly interact with adolescents who are ACA, New England members or who work at camps located in Western Massachusetts. *We are able to provide this course free of charge to ACA, New England members thanks to a SAMHSA grant.*
Who created the course? The National Council for Mental Wellbeing was instrumental in bringing Mental Health First Aid to the U.S. Mental Health First Aid USA worked with experts at the National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development to develop the youth program.
Mental Health First Aid Instructors through Mental Health First Aid:
- Kayla Crowe
- Joanne Dreher
This course is FREE for ACA, New England members and folks who work at camps in Western Massachusetts. You MUST register by March 6 and complete your pre-work completion by March 28 receive access to the live virtual course on April.
*Because this course results in a certification, attendees must fully participate in the entire program.*
Space is limited to 30 participants!