The Washington County University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Office is partnering with the Tattnall County UGA Extension to present a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Training Course on Tuesday, August 25.
Training will be held in a virtual setting from 8:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
The Tattnall County Extension is a member of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences team that received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. The grant, which is geared towards improving mental health, allows the YMHFA training course to be held free of charge for attendees. The course is traditionally valued at $100 per person.
Tattnall County Extension states that the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Course will teach attendees how to identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. The training is designed for adults who work with youth ages 12-18, including teachers, school staff, coaches, camp counselors, youth group leaders, and parents.
According to Mental Health America, 64.1% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment, and 5.13% of youth report having a substance or alcohol abuse problem. Additionally, the National Alliance for Mental Illness claims that 1 in 5 teens and young adults live with a mental health condition.
“As adults, we sometimes forget how hard it was being an adolescent. When we see a kid, who is just miserable at school, we might think they choose to be that way or that it’s just part of adolescence,” says Alyssa Fruchtenicht, School-based Mental Health Counselor. “But in fact, they might be in a mental health crisis, one they certainly did not choose and do not want. When a teacher says, ‘How can I be helpful?’ that is a powerful question.”
The Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Course will cover topics including:
- Common signs and symptoms of mental illnesses in youth such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Common signs and symptoms of substance abuse
- How to interact with an adolescent in crisis
- How to connect adolescents with help
The Tattnall County Extension also states that training will teach those in attendance 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
To register for the free YMHFA Training Course, call the Tattnall County Extension Office at 912-557-6724 (extension #0) by Thursday, August 20 for virtual login information.