VIRTUAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) TRAINING OFFERED FEBRUARY 28 AND 29; ADULT MHFA SESSIONS ADDED 

February 21, 2024: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in six youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year in the United States. The City’s Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS) offers a training course designed to help laypersons and paraprofessionals learn skills to support adolescents who are experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or crisis. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid is open to parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers and other caring residents. The course teaches risk factors, warning signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders, the effects of the illnesses, an overview of treatments and a five-step action plan for helping someone with symptoms.  

Register for upcoming training sessions by clicking the links in this flyer. Future sessions will be posted as they become available. 

Additionally, due to demand, seven dates between February and August have been added for Adult MHFA training. The eight-hour training and certification demonstrates the initial help given to a person showing signs of a mental health crisis. More information about the course is available. Re-certification is available online, or by taking the full course again. Register for upcoming training sessions by clicking the links in this flyer.