Youth Mental Health First Aid consists of 2-hours of self-paced content followed by 4.5 hours of instructor-led training.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an early intervention public education program. It teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a youth who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services.

Mental Health First Aid was created in Australia in 2000 by Betty Kitchener, an educator and mental health consumer, and Professor Tony Jorm, a mental health researcher. In 2008, the National Council, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health brought Mental Health First Aid to the United States.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

-Describe the purpose of Youth Mental Health First Aid and the role of the Youth Mental Health First Aider.

-Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges that may impact youth.

-Explain the impact of traumatic experiences and the role of resilience on adolescent development.

-Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to non-crisis situations.

-Apply the appropriate steps of the YMHFA Action Plan (ALGEE) to crisis situations.

-Choose appropriate methods for self-care following the application of Youth Mental Health First Aid in a crisis or non-crisis situation.

We are gearing up for our 2025 Annual Mountain Region EMS Conference May 15th-17th, in Farmington, ME and have a fantastic set of new classes. We will be attempting to target CEH's in areas such as Pediatrics, Airway & Respiration, Cardiac, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Medical, Operations and more. A full lunch will be provided to all full day participants registered. Schedule will be Thursday & Friday 8-5, and Sat 8-1. Please register for the full conference or specific day/days you can attend. A list of topics and speakers was sent out via email, if you need additional details reach out via email to amanda.comeau@mainehealth.org. 

Looking forward to seeing you at the conference!