Information from LaPorte County DFP
LaPorte County Drug Free Partnership is initiating a Youth Mental Health First Aid program to train members of the public to improve mental health literacy -– helping them identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness.
Youth Mental Health First Aid 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 adolescents (ages 12-18) experiencing mental health or addictions challenges.
The Drug Free Partnership is offering the free one-day class on two different dates – April 9 and 30 – at the Northern Indiana Education Foundation, Michigan City. Slots are limited, so register as early as possible. Each full-day session will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and lunch will be provided. Funding is provided by an SAPT Block Grant through Indiana FSSA/Division of Mental Health and Addiction.
— To register for the April 9 session, visit http://dfpmentalhealthfirstaid.eventzilla.net.
— To register for the April 30 session, visit http://dfpmentalhealthfirstaid3.eventzilla.net.
“We are thrilled to bring Youth Mental Health First Aid to our community,” said Joseph Bunch, co-coordinator of the grant. “This important educational effort goes a lot further than emergency intervention. It really helps people understand the shroud of fear and misjudgment facing individuals and families who experience mental illnesses and addiction. It will help rid this community of the associated stigma and move more and more people toward recovery.”
The Mental Health First Aid course teaches participants a five-step action plan to assess a situation, select and implement interventions, and secure appropriate care for the individual. The certification program introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact and overviews common treatments. Mental health challenges addressed include depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use.
Research shows that more than one in five American youths will have a mental health problem in any given year.
Mental Health First Aid originated in 2001 in Australia under the direction of founders Betty Kitchener and Tony Jorm. To date, it has been replicated in 20 other countries worldwide.
For more information, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org. For further details about the local programs, contact jbunch22@gmail.com or mickiwebb@gmail.com. For more info on local drug free efforts, visit https://www.facebook.com/lpcdfp.
The mission of the LaPorte County Drug Free Partnership is to bring together individuals, organizations and agencies both public and private that seek to provide optimal resources for the combating of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse in LaPorte County.