Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

of all mental illnesses

1 %

begin by AGE 14, and 75% by the MID-20s.

-Archives of General Psychiatry

In 5 teens & Young adults

lives with a
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION

-National Alliance of Mental Illness

OF Youth

1 %

of youth will be diagnosed with a SUBSTANCE USE disorder in their lifetime.

-Youth Mental Health First AId

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches adults how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges in youth. This training is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or is in crisis.

The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Who should know Mental Health First Aid?

Teachers
School Staff
Coaches
Camp Counselors
Youth Group Leaders
Parents
Adults who Work with Youth

JJAB normally provides 4 to 5 training opportunities per year. The training is free to participants and includes all materials. Sessions are held in person are open to any person living in Los Alamos County or a surrounding Northern New Mexico community.

Classes are facilitated by a certified trainer and made possible through financial support from Triad and Los Alamos County. To date Los Alamos JJAB has provided training to over 663 individuals.

ALGEE action plan

The course will teach you how to apply the ALGEE action plan:

Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen nonjudgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support strategies

contact us if your organization like to host a training for your employees or volunteers.

What participants are saying:

The class gave me skills that will be useful on a daily basis in my work in the youth services department at the library

I am a Resource Specialist that works primarily with middle and high school youth. I highly recommend Youth Mental Health First Aid training. Youth Mental Health First Aid training provides a wealth of enrichment that is not only extremely valuable for our youth directly, but for the community as a whole. The ALGEE action plan is a tool that I use every day, and serves as a cornerstone to my work with youth.”

I took Youth Mental Health First Aid and I remember having to use my newly acquired skills within a few days. A student in one of my classes was in distress and I was so thankful that I learned how to reach out and show my concern.

We saw how to apply much of what we learned in the workshops and how to become more confident in facing any future crisis, both at home and in the workplace. Participants from both workshops shared how they felt the facilitator's calm and passioned delivery of the content, which is very emotional and impactful, was the thing that made them slow down and internalize the messages.