Now Offering: Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Training
What is YMHFA?
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.
Youth Mental Health Aid (YMHFA) - Group Training
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing designed the Youth Mental Health First Aid training to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help adolescents (age 12-18) seek help for mental health-related challenges or crises that they may be facing.
The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan (ALGEE) for helping young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, suicide ideation and related behaviors, and eating disorders.
How is it delivered?
The Blended Online Version of Youth Mental Health First Aid consists of 2 hours of self-paced content and 4.5 hours of instructor-led training.
*** In-person options of YMHFA are available. However, this option requires a full-day session of up to 8 hours of instruction with embedded breaks, as there is no self-paced content.
We also offer community specific training for Indigenous People and Tribal Communities!
*** Note: This version is available for in-person delivery ONLY.
Please email collaborate@indigenexus.net if you want to bring this training to your organization, group, or school.
*** NOTE: Pricing varies based on group size. * The minimum class size is 5 individuals, and the maximum is 25. *
Why take this training?
Be part of the 1 in 15 people able to recognize, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use challenges.
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.
Once you pass the final knowledge check and complete an evaluation for the course, you will officially be part of the Youth Mental Health First Aid Movement!
Certification as a Youth Mental Health First Aider lasts for three years.
Why does it only last three years?
- Since the YMHFA is constantly updated with new evidence-based practices and insights, a refresher course is offered online for recertification.
For more information, please visit the following website: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/recertification/
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