Learn more about our Youth Mental Health First Aid course
Did you know? According to the World Health Organisation, 50% of all mental health starts by the age of 14, 75% by the mid-twenties. Therefore, adults who either work with or are closely connected with young people aged 12 to 24 are in a stronger position to detect early stages of mental health.
What is Mental Health?
Mental illness is a major change in thoughts, feelings and behaviour which causes disruption to day-to-day functioning and doesn’t go away as quickly as they should.
Mental Health continuum
We offer a range of accredited Mental Health First Aid courses that are internationally acclaimed and evidence-based. Attending these courses will help empower and equip individuals with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to support a friend, young person, family member or co-worker experiencing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis such as being suicidal.
About Youth Mental Health First Aid
The Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) course covers the main mental health problems that affect young people (anxiety, depression, eating disorders, psychosis and substances). It also teaches you how to assess & assist a range of crisis situations including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, non-suicidal self-injury.
The training highlights the different symptoms of mental health challenges and appropriate ways to assist and support. Empathetic listening is a key component of mental health first aid conversations that encourages individuals to talk openly and honestly about their situation.
The action plan ALGEE is an essential component of the MHFA courses.Within this framework participants learn to assess what’s going on, listen non-judgmentally, give support, encourage seeking outside help, and encourage self-help.
This course can be delivered in different pathways:
- YMHFA – 14 hours face-to-face (over two days or Four x 3.5hour shorter sessions)
- Blended YMHFA Course consists of 4 hours of elearning and either 3 x 2.5 hours of Zoom sessions or 2 x 4 hours of face-to-face sessions.
Mental Health First Aid programs are suitable for communities, participants, and target cohorts. Courses can be delivered at an individual level in small groups, or to workplaces, schools, clubs, and other community groups.
Our Instructor is a Principal Master Licensed MHFA Instructor.
Why do our courses?
- Mental health problems are common and have significant negative effects on people’s health and wellbeing
- Greater knowledge about mental health problems means people are better able to recognise problems in themselves and/or others and better prepared to support
- There is still a lot of stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems, which may lead to individuals hiding their problems and prevents them from seeking help
- Majority of people with mental health problems don’t seek help or delay seeking help, so people close to them may notice changes in behaviour, emotions and wellbeing
- Early signs of mental health is closely linked to the stages of development of young people so it is important to be aware of the changes
Over 99% of participants would recommend our training to others. We have trained more than 1,000 YMHFAiders over the last 7 years.
- “Very informative and enjoyable course”
- “A really useful course and the instructors in-depth knowledge of the issues we covered was impressive and inspiring”
Our next blog will be about having difficult conversations in challenging circumstances such as suicidal thoughts and behaviour, non-suicidal self injury and gambling.
For more information and bookings please email us at: [email protected]
