A study by the National Alliance for Mental Illness has shown that 1-in-5 teens and young adults live with a mental health condition. In order to make sure that adults working with youth are better equipped to recognize and appropriately react to signs of a mental health crisis, the Corbin School of Innovation is hosting Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings through its partnership with AmeriCorps and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
SOI Media Coordinator Michael Ross is serving as one of the program administrators, and spoke about its importance, saying, “This is for anyone who is a caregiver – a parent, a teacher, a coach – anyone who works with youth. It will help them to identify if a child may be going through a mental health challenge, and then teach them how to respond.”
Ross said that, much like administering first aid in a playground setting, those administering mental health first aid are not expected to be clinicians, psychologists or therapists. Instead, a person certified in youth mental health first aid will know how to effectively serve as a bridge between a child that is in crisis and a trained professional that is equipped to handle the situation in a clinical setting.
Because the Youth Mental Health First Aid training program is being made possible thanks to federal grant funding, those wishing to receive the training can do so at absolutely no cost. To receive more information on how to attend a training, e-mail Ross at michael.ross@corbin.kyschools.us.
Sydney Becknell, a student mental health services provider with Corbin SOI, said that mental health first aid training can be invaluable to any adult who is working with youth on a regular basis.
“Youth are exposed to so many unique stressors just based on where they are developmentally,” Becknell said. “Sometimes their needs aren’t being met, and if we miss the signs and symptoms [of mental illness] we’re not going to be able to intervene before something irreversible happens. The importance of having a program like this is that it trains more people to be aware.”
Ross stressed that this is an evidence-based course that has been proven to work in communities where it is implemented. “It can save lives when applied correctly,” he said.
Ross said the course includes approximately two hours of pre-work that will require access to a computer and the Internet, followed by a 4-5-hour instructor led class that can be attended in person or online. Upon completion of all requirements, a certification will be awarded by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that will be active for three years.
