FOLEY, Ala. — Parents, teachers, coaches and other adults who spend time with young people will have a chance to earn certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid on Wednesday, Dec. 9, when the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation offers the eight-hour course in Foley.
The training runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Baldwin Health’s Education Room, 1613 N. McKenzie St. The foundation is presenting the course through Mental Health First Aid, a program of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Registration costs $130, and the class is limited to 25 participants. The fee covers training materials and lunch.
What the course teaches
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed for adults who work with or care for young people. The course gives participants practical skills to recognize when a young person may be struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge, to respond appropriately and to connect that young person with support.
The curriculum covers common mental health challenges among youth, the basics of adolescent development and a five-step action plan that participants can use in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
Specific topics include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Substance use
- Psychosis
- Disruptive behavioral disorders, including ADHD
- Eating disorders
Throughout the day, the training focuses on two practical questions: what warning signs to look for, and what to do next when a young person needs help.
Background: what is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental Health First Aid works on the same basic idea as traditional first aid. Just as a CPR or first-aid course prepares ordinary people to help someone with a physical injury or medical emergency until professional help arrives, Mental Health First Aid prepares people to offer initial help to someone experiencing a mental health or substance use problem or crisis.
The program began in Australia and was brought to the United States in 2008 by the organization now known as the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Since then, millions of Americans have been trained, and courses have been adapted for specific audiences, including the youth-focused version being offered in Foley.
Participants are not trained to diagnose or treat mental illness. Instead, the course teaches them to notice when something may be wrong, start a supportive conversation and guide the person toward appropriate professional care and other sources of help.
The five-step action plan
Mental Health First Aid courses teach a five-step plan commonly known by the acronym ALGEE. The steps are not necessarily followed in strict order, but they give participants a framework for what to do:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
- Listen nonjudgmentally.
- Give reassurance and information.
- Encourage appropriate professional help.
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
Who should consider attending
The course is aimed at any adult who regularly interacts with adolescents. That can include parents and grandparents, teachers and school staff, coaches, youth ministers, scout and club leaders, health care workers, first responders and others who work with young people in the community.
Adolescence is a period of significant change, and many mental health conditions first show signs during the teen years. Adults who know how to spot early warning signs and respond with confidence can help a young person get support sooner.
Other options
Those who cannot make the Dec. 9 session can sign up with the foundation to be notified when future training dates are scheduled. The foundation also offers private training for groups of 20 or more, which can be arranged by contacting the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation directly.
Course details
- What: Youth Mental Health First Aid certification course
- When: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Where: Baldwin Health Education Room, 1613 N. McKenzie St., Foley
- Cost: $130, including training materials and lunch
- Capacity: 25 participants
- Presented by: Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, through Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Registration: Through the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation
