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WEDNESDAY, JUN 15, 2016

CLMHD is Training Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainers: 30 at a Time

Mental health is one of the top health problems for children and teens.  Twenty percent of U.S. youth reported that they suffered from a mental disorder with symptoms severe enough to impair their daily lives (Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2010).  More than 200,000 New York children and teens, or one in five, have a mental health diagnosis.  Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 19 in New York.   Because the symptoms of mental illness can be difficult to detect, friends and family of someone who appears to be in crisis may not know how to intervene or direct the person to proper treatment.  
 
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) was designed by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare to teach neighbors, teachers, parents, peers, and caring citizens how to help a youth or teen who is experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or is in crisis. The training is focused on helping youth (12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or a crisis and introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention and teaches individuals how to help a youth experiencing a mental health crisis or challenge. 
 
As part of the Conference's efforts to expand the number of people trained to teach YMHFA, CLMHD is once again sponsoring (providing scholarships) to 30 individuals throughout the state to participate in the 5-day Train-the-Trainer program and be certified to train others in their communities.
 
The program will be offered the week of October 24th in Albany, NY. Candidates must be able to attend the training that week.  CLMHD will cover the training, travel, and lodging for attendees.  A "blended training" will once again be offered for those already trained as MHFA instructors - these individuals will only need to attend the first 2.5 days of the training.
 
An application packet has been distributed to DCSs to share with interested parties.  If you or someone you know is interested in applying, click here for the application.  Applications are to be submitted to the DCS for approval, and will then be forwarded to CLMHD and will be reviewed by a committee.  Individuals will be notified of their selection and will have to commit to the requirements established by the committee.   
 
For more information, or if you are interested in serving on the Review Committee, please contact Francine Sinkoff at CLMHD at fs@clmhd.org or 518-462-9422.