WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CERTIFICATION IN 2024

During the pandemic, FICS staff saw the youth turning off cameras and becoming more aloof during our programming. We submitted a proposal to build on our overarching Partners in Well-Being initiative to infuse training and capacity building at the community level so that we, as a community, could better support youth.

That was back in 2021, before there were "official stats" on academic slippage" due to so many factors we now look back on. However, there is not just one reason or one solution. That is why we focused on evidence-based interventions and from them, we chose Youth Mental Health First Aid or #YMHFA. This intervention comes from Australia but has been adapted for the multicultural US population and it trains ADULTS, including parents, on how to not only intervene in a crisis, like regular First Aid, but how to spot behaviors and actions that might become a problem and how to intervene at that point. By the way, youth is defined by the CDC as anyone under the age of 25 now, due to new research that shows brains develop up until that age.

This is our first year teaching this program. We find that participants get a lot out of the course, which lasts a total of 7.5 hours. One of the things I like about this curriculum is that it emphasizes the role of self-care for us as people providing the YMHFA. One part of self-care is to have fun.

Here are some comments that previous participants shared with us:

• "Amazing job on making it fun and entertaining!!"
• "She was excellent with her energy and efficiently help clear all the questions throughout the session."
• "Great presentation and group today, I truly learned a lot."

Research shows that 20% or more adolescents experience a mental health issue. That's 1 in 5 youth. But we also know that it only takes one caring trusted adult to make a difference in a young person's life.

If you'd like to be that one person, sign up for our free training. When you pass, you are certified for 3 years! Here's the link: https://forms.gle/hf1YJKPNns2bTyMd8

We have seven dates between now and the end of 2023. Don't wait, the time is now. If you'd like more information, please contact  us at alayneu@ficsinc.org or partners@ficsinc.org

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