32 participants for Youth Mental Health First Aid training

Our spring Youth Mental Health First Aid training had 32 participants representing a wide range of backgrounds with one thing in common -- their jobs or volunteer work frequently brings them in contact with families and youth who struggle with emotional, behavioral and mental health problems. They spent all day on Tuesday, May 7 with training leaders B. J. Horner (above) and Bethany Shirkey learning how to recognize and assess the signs that a young person may be experiencing a mental health crisis, how to listen nonjudgmentally and how to help and encourage the youngster and family to seek appropriate professional help.

Participants came from the faith community, schools, jobs and family service agencies, health departments, area court appointed special advocates, family violence agencies and other youth-serving organizations.

NAMI Four County sponsors two Mental Health First Aid trainings every year -- one in the spring that focuses on youth and one in the fall that focuses on adults.  The last two trainings were underwritten in part by a grant from the Promedica Defiance Hospital Foundation and the trainers are funded by the Four County ADAMhs Board.

More photos from the May 7th Youth Mental Health First Aid training are part of a slide show that you can find in the "Photo and Video Gallery" tab.