Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, 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. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Thanks to dear friends near and far, I was able to complete my certification to become an instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid. This training is available to adults 18+. The value of this course is $175 per person. I still need to make up the difference from my GoFundMe to the full cost of training and materials, plus some additional training, so for now, there will be a nominal fee of $50 for registration. This fee will include digital copies of your participant processing guide (a PDF download) and Youth Mental Health First Aid Manual (a digital PDF that requires you to log in to access, no downloading). Hard copies are available for purchase through me: $10 for the participant processing guide and $30 for the YMHFA manual.

The course is a blended model, which has you complete 2 hours of pre-work before coming to the 4.5 hour instructor-led session. You cannot attend the in-person session if you have not completed the pre-work.

Courses will be listed below. Registration will be through my Google forms for now and are limited to 30 participants. You will be sent an invite from Mental Health Connect to establish your account for your pre-work. This is where you will also return to get your certificate of completion.

As a certified Camp Director through BSA’s National Camping School, I am also able to offer the Preventing Youth on Youth Abuse training at some sessions. Though required for camp staff, this training will help leaders to recognize potential situations as well as what to do when they occur on campouts. This optional training is an additional 90 minutes at the conclusion of the Youth Mental Health First Aid course. Please sign up for it on your registration form.

Upcoming Courses:

Sunday, August 4, 2024 – 1:00 pm at TBD – Register Here

Past Courses:

Saturday, January 6, 2024 – 10:00 AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Rincon

Sunday, April 14, 2024 – 1:00 PM at St. Michael’s Church in Savannah (Waters Ave)