TRAINING

Would you know how to help?

One in ten young people experience a mental health issue at any one time. Suicide is the leading cause of death for those aged 5-19. In an average group of 30 15 year olds: ▪ Seven are likely to have been bullied ▪ Six may be self-harming ▪ One could have experienced the death of a parent

Record levels of young people are struggling. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty, lack of availability of professional mental health support all have been named by various sources as contributing to this epidemic of poor mental health in our young people.

It’s clear that young people are not getting the support they need. Key figures in a young person’s life. Parents, family members, teachers, tutors, carers, youth workers can often spot when a young person is struggling but may not know how best to help.

The Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are for anyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. The course trains school staff to have the skills and confidence to step in, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, they can speed up a young person’s recovery, stop issues from developing into a crisis, and ultimately save lives.

But more than that, by giving staff the information and skills to look after their own mental health, we want them to set an example for young people. We want adults to be able to show young people that mental ill health is a part of life in just the same way as physical ill health, that it’s OK to talk about and it’s OK to ask for help.

By giving people the tools to open up these conversations, we can empower them to create mentally healthy, supportive environments in their families, schools, youth groups and communities.

This course will teach you practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues.

Gain confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress.

The course is a blend of live training sessions and self-learning activities.

This two day course qualifies you as a Mental Health First Aider. As a Youth MHFAider, you will be able to:

Understand what mental health is and how it affects young people • Look after your own mental health and wellbeing • Recognise signs of poor mental health in young people • Identify common risk factors affecting youth mental health • Use the Youth MHFA action plan (ALGEE) to support someone in need • Understand the responsibilities and boundaries of a Youth Mental Health First Aider

Course Structure

Day 1

Session 1 ▪ What is mental health? ▪ What is Youth Mental Health First Aid ▪ Your role as a Youth MHF Aider ▪ What influences mental health? ▪ The Mental Health Continuum ▪ The Frame of Reference ▪ The Stress Container

Session 2 ▪ The adolescent brain ▪ The Youth MHFA action plan ▪ Youth MHFA conversation in action ▪ Boundaries of your role ▪ What is anxiety? ▪ Crisis first aid for panic attacks ▪ What is a traumatic event? ▪ Applying Youth MHFA to case studies

Day 2

Session 3 ▪ Recap Youth MHFA action plan ▪ Supporting young people from marginalised groups ▪ What is depression? ▪ What is self harm? ▪ Suicide thoughtsand behaviours▪ What is self-care?

Session 4 ▪ Addictive behaviours and substance misuse ▪ Applying the Youth MHFA action plan to scenarios ▪ What is psychosis?▪ What is disordered eating? ▪ Recovering  ▪ Reviewing the Youth MHFAider role and boundaries▪ Youth MHFA conversation practice