Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a course for adults who interact with youth, teaching them to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. It covers common mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, and includes a 5-step action plan for providing initial help and connecting youth to professional resources. The course uses a variety of teaching methods, including a 5-step action plan, to help participants respond to both crisis and non-crisis situations. 

What you will learn…

• Recognize the signs: Identify the risk factors and warning signs of common mental health challenges and substance use disorders in young people. This includes specific topics like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and disorders where psychosis may occur.
• Understand adolescent development: Learn how typical adolescent development impacts mental health.
• Implement a 5-step action plan: Master a 5-step action plan (ALGEE) for helping youth in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
• Provide initial help: Practice skills like de-escalating a crisis safely and providing initial help.
• Connect to support: Learn how to connect young people with professional, peer, social, and self-help resources.
• Address stigma: Understand how to address stigma and explain that recovery is possible.