Just over a week ago, I completed the Youth Mental Health First Aid certification training by Mental Health USA. After completing the program, I decided I needed to find a way to get some of these elements into the minds of my youth (I serve in capacities for Cubs, Scouts BSA, Venture Crew, and District). So I searched to see if anyone else had a program for youth already, as I don’t believe in reinventing the wheel.

The program I have created is modified from the program created for Girl Scouts by the International Bipolar Foundation. There were aspects of theirs that I liked, and parts that I felt lacking. Also, since I was going to be covering this in two separate groups, I wanted the material tailored to each one. Elements were taken from various resources online to compile this program, and are credited as they are used.

This program was created to be completed by our Pack’s NOVA and Webelos dens. All parents were notified of the content in advance and given the option to have their child participate.

This program is structured to be completed in two meetings, consisting of activities to learn about the brain, types of mental health conditions that affect youth, individuals with mental health who have been successful, and how we should treat all individuals with kindness.

All Cubs who participate in their sessions will earn a Mental Health Awareness patch. NOVAs will count toward requirement 3 of Science Everywhere, and Webelos will count toward requirement 3 of Aware and Care.

I’ll update the program after we do it of any modifications or notes that may be helpful to those who plan to do this themselves.

Download my Mental Health Program here

Downloads

• http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/Mental_Health_Awareness_MPP.pdf
• https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uyq5-yfj_vuJdmqFnHlIlsMedTfFh0HB
• http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/colorb2.html
• http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/colorb4.html
• http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/bandn.pdf
• http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/dominon.pdf
• https://www.macmh.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/toolsoffriendship.pdf
• https://www.cornwallhealthyschools.org/documents/stop_stigma_survey_teacher_factsheet.pdf
• https://dana.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/fact-sheet-high-school-how-does-brain-work-baw.pdf
• https://dana.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/6-8_Word-Scramble-and-Word-Search_color.pdf (word search)

Patches

A patch is supposed to be available for free from the IBF by using their form in the PDF (pages 32-33) and mailing to them. My attempts to reach them via email to confirm they are still available have gone unanswered (as of October 13, 2019). If you use their form to send in, you are checking off the following boxes (modeling Daisies and Brownies):
• Discover #1, #5, #7
• Take Action #6

Other Mental Health Awareness patches available:
• https://www.e-patchesandcrests.com/catalogue/patches/health_safety/E698-mental-health.php
• https://www.advantageemblem.com/fun-patches/s-3736-mental-health-awareness.asp