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.
%
of youth will be diagnosed with a substance use disorder in their lifetime.
Source: Youth Mental Health
First Aid**
1 in 5
teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition
Source: National Alliance for
Mental Health*
%
of mental illness begin at 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):
ssess for risk of suicide or harm.
isten nonjudgmentally.
ive reassurance and information.
ncourage appropriate professional help.
ncourage self-help and other support strategies.
QHSUA is sponsoring two FREE Trainings for Mental Health First Aid:
January 30
(9:00 – 3:30PM)
February 5th and 12th
(6:00 – 8:30PM)
Sources:
* National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Kids. https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/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