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By LINDA COMINS
Staff Writer
A training session for youth workers is being offered locally to help them recognize warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents.
An eight-hour certification course, Youth Mental Health First Aid Training, will be presented from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21. The all-day session will take place at the Marshall County Family Resource Network office, 1501 Second St., Moundsville.
The course will review risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, ages 12-18. It emphasizes the importance of early intervention. Participants will learn how to help a teen in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.
Amy Gamble, director of NAMI of Greater Wheeling, will deliver the training. The course is intended for anyone, age 16 or older, to learn how to help young people.
The cost of the training includes lunch and materials. To register, call 304-845-3300.
Melody Osborne, who works at the Marshall County Family Resource Network and serves as the Adolescent Health Initiative coordinator for Region VI, said, “Offering a Youth Mental Health First Aid training is one step toward helping to address the question I field most from parents: ‘How do I identify the difference between my child struggling with a mental health issue versus a typical adolescent emotional behavior pattern?'”
Osborne said, “This training will better equip both parents and professionals who work with young people to answer that question, respond appropriately when needed and learn where they can locate mental health services locally.”
Explaining why this training is important, Gamble said, “Mental illness is common and yet we often don’t know how to recognize the most common signs and symptoms. Fifty percent of all mental illness develops by the age of 15 and 75 percent by the age of 24.
“Early intervention is the key to more successful outcomes,” Gamble said. “MHFA teaches participants how to handle crisis situations and how to help before professional help is available.”
The instructor said participants will learn a five-step action plan called ALGEE:
A – Assess for risk of suicide or harm
L – Listen nonjudgementally
G – Give reassurance and information
E – Encourage appropriate professional help
E – Encourage self-help and other support strategies
Gamble explained, “Mental Health First Aid is an adult public education program designed to improve participants’ knowledge and modify their attitudes and perceptions about mental health and related issues, including how to respond to individuals who are experiencing one or more acute mental health crises (i.e., suicidal thoughts and/or behavior, acute stress reaction, panic attacks and/or acute psychotic behavior) or are in the early stages of one or more chronic mental health problems (i.e., depressive, anxiety and/or psychotic disorders, which may occur with substance abuse).”
The instructor said the course introduces participants to risk factors, warning signs and symptoms for a range of mental health problems, including comorbidity with substance use disorders. Participants will gain understanding of the impact and prevalence of mental health problems. The class also provides an overview of common support and treatment resources for those with a mental health problem.
“In addition, the course helps participants to not only gain confidence in their capacity to approach and offer assistance to others, but also to improve their personal mental health,” Gamble said. “After completing the course and passing an examination, participants are certified for three years as a mental health first aider.”