6 Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid trainings scheduled, February-May
A training you should include with your CPR, lifesaving, and first aid background
You are just as likely to encounter someone in mental health crisis as one who needs CPR, if not more so, points out South County Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds (HBHM) Director Susan Orban.
“The statistics are daunting in South County,” she notes. “We have high rates of substance abuse from teens to elders. As many as one in three youths experience depression at least once every year. We have psychiatric hospitalizations and, sadly, suicides.”
In response, HBHM works with the international Mental Health First Aid organization to train parents, afterschool programmers, educators, camp counselors, juvenile police officers, and others in the curriculum for Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA).
Free of charge, the 8-hour training focuses on being aware of early signs of concern and how to provide immediate support until professional help can be secured.
HBHM offers a similar program for adults helping adults: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
The following sessions are available this Winter and Spring. To register (required) or for more information, contact Donna Greene at (401) 788- 2371 or dgreene@southcountyhealth.org.
Adult Mental Health First Aid trainings
2 Thursdays, February 15 & 22, 8 am-12:30 pm: Westerly Hospital
2 Fridays, March 2 & 9, 8:00 am-12:30 pm: South County Hospital
2 Fridays, May 11 & 18, 8:00 am-12:30 pm: South County Hospital
Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings
2 Saturdays, Feb 17 & Feb 24, 8 am-12:30 pm: Harvest Acres, Richmond
2 Saturdays, March 10 & 17, 8 am-12:30 pm: Westerly Hospital
2 Saturdays, May 5 & 12, 8 am-12:30 pm: Westerly Hospital
