Sign Up Online (if you don’t have an MHFA Connect account, click ‘Register Now’ in the upper right of the webpage): https://connect.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/courses/4157020
Location:
Northwest Region Education Service District Washington Service Center, Lewis & Clark room
5825 NE Ray Circle, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Contact the Training Coordinator for Questions and Support:
Hunter Rudd, He/Him
hunter_rudd@beaverton.k12.or.us
A message from the training organizers:
Why Youth Mental Health First Aid? Assisting/ intervening with a student in crisis or non-crisis mental health situations can be a potentially intimidating or challenging scenario. We may worry that we do not have the skillset to be effective or, worse yet, worried that we might make the situation worse. Youth Mental Health First Aid can give you newfound confidence to step in as a trained first aider responder as behavioral health issues arise and intervene in a helpful manner. You will be able to connect students to the right people at that moment or help by making appropriate referrals. School staff and other adults who work with school-age children are often the first line of defense when it comes to student health and safety. You ARE the dedicated people making a difference every day. YMHFA is another tool you can use to help you be more effective in your job.
By the end of the instructor-led course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the purpose of Youth Mental Health First Aid and the role of the Youth Mental Health First Aider.
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges that may impact youth.
- Explain the impact of traumatic experiences and the role of resilience on adolescent development.
- Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to non-crisis situations.
- Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to crisis situations.
- Choose appropriate methods for self-care following the application of Youth Mental Health First Aid in a crisis or non-crisis situation.
ALGEE method that we will discuss:
- A – Approach, assess for risk of suicide or harm. Try to find a suitable time or place to start the conversation with the person, keeping their privacy and confidentiality in mind. If the person does not want to confide in you, encourage them to talk to someone they trust.
- L – Listen non-judgmentally. Many people experiencing a challenge or distress want to be heard first, so let the person share without interrupting them. Try to have empathy for their situation. You can get the conversation started by saying something like, “I noticed that …” Try to be accepting, even if you don’t agree with what they are saying.
- G – Give reassurance and information. After someone has shared their experiences and emotions with you, be ready to provide hope and useful facts.
- E – Encourage appropriate professional help. The earlier someone gets help, the better their chances of recovery. So, it’s important to offer to help this person learn more about the options available to them.
- E – Encourage self-help and other support strategies. This includes helping them identify their support network, programs within the community, and creating a personalized emotional and physical self-care plan