MADISON – Parents, guardians and others who work with children and teens can benefit from “Youth Mental Health First Aid,” online and live sessions conducted by Madison City Schools mental health professionals.
Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to the signs of mental health and substance use problems in children and adolescents ages 12-18.
The resources include a two-hour, self-paced online course. The instructor-led session will be held June 13 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Journey Middle School.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, relatives, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers and neighbours. The sessions are primarily aimed at adults who have regular contact with adolescents.
This course introduces common youth mental health issues, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan for supporting youth in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, potential psychosis disorders, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
There are five steps to a first aid action plan.
* Assessment – Determine potential risk of suicide or self-harm.
* Listen – Pay attention to what the young person is saying without judging the message.
* Give – Respond to individuals by providing reassurance and information.
* Encourage – encourage young people to seek appropriate professional help.
* Encourage – Sincerely suggest that young people find self-help or other support strategies.
Mental Health First Aid can be provided to adults who are experiencing a panic attack, suicidal thoughts or actions, self-harm (but not suicidal behavior), acute psychosis (such as hallucinations or delusions), or alcohol or drug overdose or withdrawal.
Statistics from Youth Mental Health First Aid, the National Alliance for Mental Illness and General Psychiatry show the importance of adult awareness of young people’s challenges.
* 10.2 percent of young people will be diagnosed with a substance use disorder in their lifetime.
* One in five teens and young adults is living with a mental illness.
* Fifty percent of all mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75 percent begin by the mid-20s.
Cost for the workshop is $35 to cover session materials and certification fees. For more information and registration links, visit madisoncity.k12.al.us/domain/2411.
For more information, please email Stephanie Allen at slallen@madisoncity.k12.al.us.
