Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
CRT provides training though the national education program Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health concerns. It builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help a youth in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. The program includes a five and a half-hour Zoom course with two additional hours of online course work.
The course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among children and 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 to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan:
Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen
nonjudgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support strategies
Participants will learn to recognize the symptoms of common mental illnesses and substance use disorders; strategies to deescalate crisis situations safely; and how to initiate timely referrals to mental health and substance abuse resources available in the community.
This training is designed for individuals who have contact with youth ages six and over, who are at risk of developing mental health disorders. Participating organizations may include child protective agencies, faith-based organizations, gang violence prevention groups, youth mentoring agencies, teen parenting programs, schools and educational institutions, domestic violence shelters, juvenile and family court, and medical providers.
