New 8-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid Community Classes

Description

WHEAT RIDGE – Depression. Anxiety. Substance abuse. These are but a few of the mental health challenges youth in Colorado struggle with every day.  In fact, one out of five adolescents you meet has struggled with a mental health or substance use problem at some point.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is an innovative, 8-hour course that introduces the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents (12 and older) and builds an understanding of the importance of early intervention. Just as CPR training helps a layperson without medical training assist an individual following a heart attack, Youth Mental Health First Aid training helps a person assist adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis. The program provides a concrete action plan to help youth in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, and self-help care.
This evidence-based training has been featured in ABC News, USA Today and NPR. Jefferson Center has been providing MHFA since 2009 and has trained more than 200 people in our community, law enforcement, Red Rocks Community College, Metro Community Provider Network, JeffCo Department of Health and Environment and more.
Participants will learn:

• The warning signs and risk factors for depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, & substance use.
• A 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect to professional care.
• Resources available to help someone with a mental health problem.

• Teachers, administrators, college faculty and clergy
• Employers, human resources and other professionals
• Homeless shelter, substance abuse and nursing home staff
• Hospitals and primary care health centers
• Law enforcement, human services, and other first responders
• Policymakers
• Families and caring citizens

About Jefferson Center for Mental Health
Celebrating its 55th year, Jefferson Center for Mental Health helps to bring hope for a brighter future to thousands of community members who struggle with mental health challenges.  As the community’s nonprofit mental health center, Jefferson Center serves people throughout Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties at over 20 locations, as well as schools, nursing homes, senior centers and other community settings.  Last year Jefferson Center served more than 19,000 people in need.  Center staff has expertise in numerous areas including children and family issues, adults with serious mental illness, suicide prevention, early intervention, juvenile justice, and trauma treatment.  For more information about Jefferson Center, visit www.jcmh.org.