Wilmington Public Schools To Offer Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Training To Parents

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington Public Schools is offering the following two free Youth Mental Health First Aid courses to Wilmington parents and staff:

Offering #1 : Mental Health First Aid for Elementary and Intermediate Age 

• 1 day training: February 21, 2017, 8am-4:30pm
• Open to WPS Staff and Parents
• Instructors: Bethany Dionne and Kellianne Sweeney
• Location TBD
• To enroll contact: Bethany.dionne@wpsk12.com

Mental Health First Aid is a highly interactive, 8-hour program taught over two days to small groups.  Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis.  The course teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

Participants will further learn about:

• The prevalence of youth mental illness in the U.S. and their emotional and economic cost.
• The potential warning signs and risk-factors for depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.
• A 5-step action plan to help a young person in crisis and connect them to profession care.
• Resources available to help someone with a mental health problem.

Youth Mental Health First Aid has been rigorously evaluated and is proven to reduce stigma connected to mental illness in the USA and across the world. This program can reduce the damaging effects of mental and emotional disorders such as job loss, school dropouts, relationship issues and drug & alcohol problems.

For additional information on Youth Mental First Aid, click HERE.

(NOTE: The above information is from Wilmington Public Schools.)

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