Mental Health First Aid

[RememberSchiff 3663]

IMHO, rather than repeating the same YP content year after year after year after year, why not build and expand our knowledge and skills in protecting youth. 

According to the Mental Health First Aid Organization, the course, titled "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. It introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and noncrisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

“Everybody should be trained,” Carolyn Griess, assistant teaching professor in Penn State  said. “Parents, friends, teachers, clergy, scout leaders, anyone who interacts with youth. Some schools train their janitors, their cafeteria workers.”

https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/take-a-course/find-a-course/

https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

https://news.psu.edu/story/594703/2019/10/24/academics/new-course-offers-tools-address-youth-mental-health-crises

 

Edited October 26, 2019 by RememberSchiff