Youth Mental Health First Aid
2021-02-01 10:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Youth Mental Health First Aid (pre-work and live virtual course)
THIS COURSE IS FULL AND HAS REACHED CAPACITY
To be added to the WAITLIST for this course or other upcoming YMHFA courses organized by ACA, New England, complete THIS FORM.

This is an 8-hour education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Youth Mental Health First Aid uses group activity, role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care.
This course is offered in a two-part format and both components must be completed to earn your certification:

5 hours of pre-work must be completed by Friday, January 22
5 hour live, virtual course from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm on Monday, February 1

What will participants learn? This course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder.
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 a mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan. The Youth Mental Health First Aid USA curriculum is primarily focused on information participants can use to help adolescents and transition-age youth, ages 8-18.
Who should take this course? The course is designed for any adults who regularly interact with adolescents who are ACA, New England members.
Who created the course? The National Council for Behavioral Health was instrumental in bringing Mental Health First Aid to the U.S. Mental Health First Aid USA worked with experts at the National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development to develop the youth program.
Instructors:
Karl Blumel, Residence Education Coordinator for Selection, Training, and Leadership, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Rosie McMahan, Program Manager, Mass Mentoring Partnership & Counselor/Educator, Optimistic Options
When: Monday, February 1, 2021, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm (pre-work must be completed by Friday, January 22 for participants to receive log-in information for the live portion of the course).
Where: Virtually
Cost: FREE for ACA, New England members. Registration by January 15 and pre-work completion by January 22 is required. *We are able to provide this course free of charge to ACA, New England members due to a grant.*
To register: Click here. You will register through ACA, New England, but additional communication about the course will come from the National Council for Behavioral Health/ Mental Health First Aid USA.
*Please only register if you can commit to completing both the pre-work and the full live session. Because this course results in a certification, attendees must fully participate in the entire program.*
Space is limited to 20 participants, so register early! Because you need to be entered into the system to complete your pre-work, the deadline to register is Friday, January 15, 2021.
If the course is full or you are interested, but not available on this date, please contact Kerry Salvo, Director of Education and Professional Development, kerry@acanewengland.org, 781-541-6080 ext. 104. If there is interest, we may offer additional courses in March/April 2021.
