TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING
Dearparent,
2B CONTINUED, a local nonprofit, will conduct teen mental health first aid (tMHFA) training for high schoolersduringthe2024-25academicyear.Thisisanevidence-basedtrainingfromtheNationalCouncil forMentalWellbeingthatteachesteensingrades9-12howtoidentify,understandandrespondtosigns ofmentalhealthandsubstanceusechallengesintheirfriendsandpeers.Thetraininggivesteensthe skillstheyneedtohavesupportiveconversationswiththeirfriendsandemphasizestheimportanceof gettinghelpfromaresponsibleandtrustedadult.
Youngpeopleoftenturntoeachotherwhenstressedorupsetandtrytohelp,sometimestakingontoo much.tMHFAteachesthemtheydon’thavetotaketheseproblemsonalone.Thecoursediscussesissues thatsometeensmayfinddistressing,likeschoolviolenceandsuicide Youmaywishtodiscussthese subjectswithyourteenbeforeorafterthetraining.
Mental health challenges are very common in adolescents, and this course is not being introduced becauseofanyspecificproblemsatourlocation.Intheeventofasuicidehere,beawarethespecific suicidewillnotbediscussedduringtheclass,norwillanyindividualteen.
Thecoursewillbetaughtbyaninstructorfromthe2BCONTINUEDorganizationwhohascompleteda specializedtrainingandiscertifiedtoteachthiscoursebyMentalHealthFirstAidUSA®attheNational CouncilforMentalWellbeing.
Thecoursewillbetaughtin45-minuteincrements,typicallyonceaweekforsevenweeks(firstweekisan informationalsessionforstudents).
Session1
Mentalhealthingeneral,whatmentalhealthchallengesare, howcommontheyareinteens.
Session2
Theimpactofmentalhealthchallengesonteens,howpeoplewith mentalhealthchallengescangetbetter,professionalswhocanhelp.
Session3
Helpingafriendwhoisincrisisbecausetheyaresuicidal,introducingthetMHFAActionPlan (“Look,Ask,Listen,Help,YourFriendship”)andhowitcanbeusedinacrisissituation.Avideo showsateenhelpingafriendwhoisexperiencingsuicidalthoughts.
Session4
Helpingafriendwhoisinanothertypeofcrisis,suchasthreateningviolenceorharmto others,engaginginnonsuicidalself-injury,orexperiencingatraumaticeventsuchasbullying, abuseorassault.PracticeusingthetMHFAActionPlan(“Look,Ask,Listen,HelpYourFriend”)in thesetypesofcrisissituations
Session5
Howtohelpafriendwhomaybeincrisisduetosubstanceuse,howtohelpwhenafriend mightbedevelopingamentalhealthchallenge.Thecoursedoesnotteachteenshowto diagnose!It’sinformationaboutbeingasupportivefriend,encouragingfriendstoseekhelp, andknowingwhenit’stimetogetsomeoneelseinvolved.
Session6
Recovery,resiliencyandallfinalactivitiestocompletethetMHFAcourse.
Teens who participate in tMHFA will receive a certificate of completion for taking the course and a manual to use during the course that they can take home after the last session. There are resources for further information in the manual that you may want to explore with your child. If you want to learn more now, the following resources are provided. You can also encourage your teen to talk to their school mental health professional for additional information and support.
RESOURCES
National Helplines
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 911.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call or Text 988 Or Chat online at https://988lifeline.org/
Crisis Text Line
Text “MHFA” to 741741 for free 24/7 crisis counseling Visit www.crisistextline.org
Learn more about mental health problems
Teens Health http://teenshealth.org/teen/your_mind
National Alliance on Mental Illness www.nami.org/Find-Support/Teens-and-Young-Adults
Hi! I’m Hope. I’m here for you! 2BSUPPORTED.ORG
Find support and resources quickly. Tell Hope what you're going through and she'll give you support options.
National Institute of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml
Learn more about Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid USA www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org
Learn more about 2B CONTINUED
www.2BCONTINUED.org
