Youth Mental Health First Aid 

 

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Fee: $30.00

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and most importantly – teaches individuals how to help a youth in crisis or experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses 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.

WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS LEARN?
The 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 a core five-step action plan to support an adolescent developing signs and symptoms of mental illness or in an emotional crisis:

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm

• Listen nonjudgmentally

• Give reassurance and information

• Encourage appropriate professional help

• Encourage self-help and other support strategies

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE COURSE?
The course is designed for adults whom regularly interact with adolescents, but may also be appropriate for older adolescents (16 and older) so as to encourage youth peer to peer interaction. Anyone who regularly works or interacts with youth – teachers, athletic coaches, mentors, juvenile justice professionals – may find the course content useful. The core Mental Health First Aid course has been successfully offered to a variety of audiences including hospital staff, employers and business leaders, faith communities, law enforcement, and the general public.

Presenter: Melanie Palmer is an Independently Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with Supervisory Status in Ohio and also maintains licensure in California. She is the Director of Training for Child Focus, Inc, has worked in the outpatient and school-based programs at CFI, and taught a general psychology course at Southwestern College. She has over 20 years experience working with clients on a variety of issues and challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, sexual abuse, marital conflict, and has extensive experience working with children and adolescents suffering from emotional and behavioral problems. Melanie is a certified instructor for Keeping Children Safe: Child Abuse and Neglect Curriculum for Early Childhood Professionals, Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program, Youth Mental Health First Aid, QPR, a Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Program, QPRT Suicide Risk Assessment and Management program and a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor's Master Trainer. She also develops and facilitates trainings on a variety of topics including healthy relationships, separation and divorce issues, parenting, stress management and self-care, communication, and more.

Continuing Education-There are no CEUs being offered for this course at this time.                                                                                                                                    

Cancellation Policy: The Training Center must be notified 7 days prior to a training via telephone, fax or email in order to cancel a registration and receive a full refund.

Please note:  Because we are not able to control the room temperature to fit everyone’s needs, we encourage you to dress in layers to better accommodate your personal comfort level.

Child Focus, Inc. Training Center is accessible to wheelchairs. If you need any of the auxiliary aids or services identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Melanie Palmer at mpalmer@child-focus.org.