Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification Opportunity for WCU Community

 College of Education and Allied Professions      October 7, 2022

In keeping with this year's campus theme, Mental Health, WCU is sponsoring an exciting training opportunity for campus faculty, staff, students and community partners. 

At no cost to participants, Youth Mental Health First Aid certification will offered on Friday, Dec. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Cullowhee campus and on Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Biltmore Park instructional site in Asheville.

Participants are required to pre-register. The National Council for Mental Health is working to make Mental Health First Aid as common as CPR. The youth version of the training is designed to "teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (ages 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge, or is in crisis.

Why Youth Mental Health First Aid?

• 10.2% of youth will be diagnosed with a substance use disorder in their lifetime.
• 1 in 5 teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition.
• 50% of all mental illness begin by age 14, and 75% by the mid-20s.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD) and eating disorders. Join certified trainers Amanda Chapman and Jenny Stewart for a hands-on, practical training experience that will certify successful participants for three years in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

For more information on the YMHFA certification please vist www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

For more information on WCU’s YMHFA training opportunities, please contact Jenny Stewart (jstewart@wcu.edu) or Amanda Chapman (abchapman@wcu.edu).