Do you work with young people and want to learn valuable skills to help identify and understand mental health and substance abuse challenges among adolescents, as well as offer vital support to those in need?
The Breaking Through Task Force is partnering with the Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County and the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services (DCDHHS) to offer a Youth Mental Health First Aid virtual course in September to interested adults who interact with youth and want to make a difference in their lives. The course will be held via Zoom on September 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Youth Mental Health First Aid provides participants with the skills they need to confidently and effectively respond to signs of mental illness and Substance Use Disorder among young people.
“In today’s world, Youth Mental Health First Aiders are so important in ensuring that our young people get the support and help they need during difficult times,” said certified YMHFA instructor Kelly Fleming, who is also the Breaking Through Task Force co-chair and DCDHHS Health Education & Outreach Supervisor. “During this course, participants will learn how to use a proven five-step action plan that can help them to identify and safely respond to potential mental health challenges among young people.”
Children & Youth Partnership Family Support Services Coordinator Molly McGinnis said that the State of the Child Conference in March brought together community leaders to discuss and explore opportunities and long-term solutions to areas of greatest need when it comes to Dare County Youth.
“One of the community needs that kept coming up was mental health,” McGinnis said. “Teaming up with Kelly Fleming and getting to work together to give the community an opportunity to take the youth mental health first aid training was one of our immediate priorities and we are excited to see ideas from the conference come to fruition.”
Created in 2001 in Australia, Mental Health First Aid has been available in the United States since 2008. Mental Health First Aid USA is operated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in partnership with the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
It is recommended that course participants have a computer with a webcam, microphone and speakers. Two hours of pre-course work is required. Registration is also required. For more information about the upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid courses being offered in Dare County, please contact Kelly Fleming at kelly.fleming@darenc.gov.
