Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an 8-hour public education program that introduces participants—parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring individuals—to the techniques of helping an adolescent (age 12–18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or who is in crisis.
Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling; rather, participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of mental illness or an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan.
This training includes an introduction to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. The training builds an understanding of the importance of early intervention and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. YMHFA uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; how to select interventions and provide initial help; and how to connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care.
Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
YMHFA is an 8-hour instructional course. Upon completion of the course, participants will be Youth Mental Health First Aid Certificated. A one-hour lunch break is provided (lunch on your own), as well as two 15-minute breaks. Training runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All instruction hours must be attended to become MHFA Certificated. A course outline is provided below.
In our area, the training is supported by Tulare County's Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) – Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Plan – Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Program. A fee is not being charged at this time for participation.
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by three national authorities: the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. To read more about Mental Health First Aid, please visit: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org
Select one of the dates listed below and click on the link. Please complete the registration form for that session. You will not receive an automatic email immediately after registering. Registrations are reviewed periodically, and each registrant will receive a confirmation email once the registrations have been reviewed.
Note: Click on a date to go to that session's information and registration page.
"$" indicates a fee is required for that session.
A Message from Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force:
Good day. We have decided to cancel all currently scheduled training as a public health safety precaution. We believe that it is our core duty to help protect vulnerable populations and this action will help protect members of our community who are medically fragile. This action also helps us to redirect our resources to emergent needs.
We do encourage you to remember and engage in self-care which can include watching a favorite comedy, meditating, listen to relaxing music, take a hot bath or shower, take a nap, and similar activities. Taking care of ourselves is the first step in effectively caring for others.
We hope you understand and support our decision and that you'll join us for training in the future.
Sincerely,
Noah J. Whitaker
Tulare County SPTF Director
Canceled Sessions
Open Session - March 19, 2020 @ Eleanor Roosevelt Community Learning Center (ERCLC)
Part 1
Break (15 minutes)
Part 2
Part 1
Break (15 minutes)
Part 2
Please call Noah Whitaker at (559) 624-7471 or send an email by Clicking Here.
2018 = 2 sessions - May 8 at Fresno Pacific, May 29 at Tulare County Office of Education, Nov 9 at PDC
2019 = 3 sessions - March 07 at the Farmersville Training Center, March 15 & 16 at the Visalia Church of the Nazarene
2020 = Open Session - March 5, 2020 @ Clubhouse Visalia