Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. This 6-hour training gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children and adolescents (ages 6-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
The revised curriculum includes two hours of self paced, online instruction to be completed prior to the instructor led session on December 3, which is mandatory. Registrants who are unable to complete it, will be required to select an alternative instructor led session to attend. Access to the online content is provided after participants set up an account with the National Council and are officially enrolled in the class.
Each participant receives access to the Mental Health First Aid online manual, and certification by the National Council for Behavioral Health as a "Mental Health First Aider." Certification is valid for a period of 3 years, and then renewable online.
