Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach adults to help adolescents experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth & reviews adolescent development. The course teaches a 5-step action plan to help young people in crisis and non-crisis situations. Course topics include: anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

YMHFA is professional development opportunity for educators, staff and community partners including: administrators, teachers, counselors, nurses, custodians, secretaries, security staff, lunch personnel, recess staff, bus drivers, youth program directors and youth leaders or workers. The course is designed to equip adults with knowledge and skills to promote mental health education, detect, respond and help connect youth with behavioral health resources. Youth Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking education program helping adults identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses. Youth Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an interactive six and a half (6.5) hour course.

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National Endorsements:
Youth Mental Health First Aid is supported by several other national organizations:

• National Association of Secondary and Elementary School Principals
• School Social Work Association of America
• National Parent Teacher Association
• National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers
• National Association of School Psychologists

Background Information:
Mental disorders are common in the United States. One (1) in five (5) Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental illness every year. Mental illnesses are the leading cause of disability in the country. Unfortunately, eighty (80) percent of Americans with treatable mental disorders do not receive a proper diagnosis and an effective treatment. In most cases people do not receive treatment because they do not understand they have an illness. People do not know the steps they need to take or where to receive help.

Chelsea Kittridge; Meghan Aupperlee

Chelsea Kittridge, Social Emotional Learning Coach, Kent ISD