Youth Mental Health First Aid – Multiple Training Opportunities in 2014
Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA) and Arizona Department of Health Services/Division of Behavioral Health Services (ADHS/DBHS) is in receipt of a Special Allocation of Funds by the Arizona State Legislature to train as many people as possible in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) through June 30, 2014. As an agency, organization, or individual that serves our community’s youth, you are being invited to participate in this exciting and life-changing training.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help a youth who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as CPR training helps a layperson without medical training assist an individual following a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis.
The evidence behind Mental Health First Aid demonstrates that it makes people feel more comfortable managing a crisis situation and builds mental health literacy — helping the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. Specifically, studies found that those who trained in Mental Health First Aid have greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help, improved concordance with health professionals about treatments, and decreased stigmatizing attitudes.
Youth Mental Health First Aid certification, which must be renewed every three years, teaches participants to:
· Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems for youth aged 12-18, including: depression, anxiety/trauma, psychosis and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.
· Use a 5-step action plan to help a youth in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.
· Interpret the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in their communities.
· Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help a youth with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery.
· Assess their own views and feelings about mental health problems and disorders.
Interested? Here are some details. First, there are two ways to attend a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training – you can attend a training hosted by NARBHA, or your agency can host a training and we’ll come to you. NARBHA offers all YMHFA trainings at NO COST to the participant or host agency. We provide the certified trainers, manuals, and all supplies for the training for FREE – host agencies just give us some space to work. Our only request is that you have at least 12 people registered to attend.
NARBHA has upcoming YMHFA trainings scheduled for the following dates:
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Friday, June 27, 2014.
All trainings offered at NARBHA start at 8:00am and end at 5:00pm including breaks and a lunch hour. You must attend the entire training to get certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Sometimes the life-saving intervention is CPR, the Heimlich, or a bandage, and sometimes the life-saving intervention is you. Please look at www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org for more information about Mental Health First Aid USA programs and mission.
If you are interested in registering for any of the above trainings or organizing a training for your agency, please contact Heather Coate at 928-214-1194 or heather.coate@narbha.org.
For a Flyer, CLICK HERE.
For an information handout, CLICK HERE.
Category: Education, Educational Opportunities, Health
