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Youth Mental Health First Aid for Parents

Mental Health First Aid from National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Become a Certified Youth Mental Health First Aider

It is free and open to all CCPS parents.

Each Class offering will consist of TWO evening classes
Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30 pm - 8:30 PM

Class Offering Dates:
September 19 & 21
September 26 & 28
October 17 & 19
October 24 & 26
November 28 & 30
December 5 & 7

Classes will be held in the Staff Development Room at the Jesse L. Starkey Administrive building 
5980 Radio Station Rd.
La Plata, MD 20646

Register here

Why Youth Mental Health First Aid?

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18.

10.2%

of youth will be diagnosed with a substance use disorder in their lifetime.

Source: Youth Mental Health First Aid**

 

1 in 5

of youth will be diagnosed with a substance use disorder in their lifetime.

Source: Youth Mental Health First Aid*

50%

of all mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by the mid-20s.

Source: Archives of General Psychiatry***

 

Who Should Know Mental Health First Aid?

  • Teachers.

  • School Staff.

  • Coaches.

  • Camp Counselors.

  • Youth Group Leaders.

  • Parents.

  • Adults who work with youth.

What Mental Health First Aid Covers

  • Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this age group, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
  • Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
  • How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.
  • How to connect the youth with help.
  • Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care and the impact of social media and bullying

Learn how to respond with the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE):

A ssess for risk of suicide or harm.
L isten nonjudgmentally.
G ive reassurance and information.
E ncourage appropriate professional help.
E ncourage self-help and other support strategies

 

Sources
* National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Kids. https://www.nami.org/YourJourney/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults/Kids
** Mental Health First Aid. (2020). Mental Health First Aid USA for adults assisting children and youth. National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
*** Kessler, R., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K.R., Walters, E.E.
(2005, June). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry. 62(6); 593-602. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593