Creating Empowerment

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to help a loved one who may be struggling. Through this training, you’ll learn how to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges — and offer the first level of support.

In-person or virtual training in Mental Health First for Adults assisting Adults. This includes available special focus modules of Mental Health First Aid for:

• Public Safety and Corrections

• Fire and EMS

• Veterans and Military Service Members

• Older Adults

In-person or virtual training for adults assisting youth

• Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this age group, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

• Learn how to respond with the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE):

• Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.

• How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.

• How to connect the youth with help.

• Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care and the impact of social media and bullying.

Developed by the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), the Raising Resilient Youth presentation will help you safely address topics such as mental illness, suicide and substance use with your child while dispelling common myths on mental health and suicide, addressing the importance of talking to your child about identifying “Trusted Adults” in their life and will provide information on warning signs and local resources.

The Making Educators Partners training helps school personnel achieve three essential goals: 

• Increase awareness of youth suicide as a serious public health concern.

• Outline the school's role in prevention efforts, emphasizing that all staff, not just mental health professionals, can help.

• Review strategies for dealing with at-risk youth, including how to talk to them and connect them with appropriate internal and external resources. 

The program is a best-practice training designated by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and is available in online and in-person formats.

KEY COMPONENTS COVERED IN TRAINING:

• How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal

• How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide

• The common causes of suicidal behavior

• The warning signs of suicide

• How to get help for someone in crisis

• Equipping faith communities to recognize and respond to suicidal desperation.

• Empowering faith communities to be sources of hope and social connection.

Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention is AFSP’s flagship suicide prevention education program that covers the scope of this leading cause of death, what the research has found to be the warning signs and risk factors of suicide, and the strategies that prevent it.

It’s Real: Intended for high school classes or community settings with groups of teens, ages from 14 to 18, It’s Real: Teens and Mental Health for High School Students (available in English and Spanish) is a 45-minute program that provides young people with mental health education and resources. The program raises awareness about mental health issues, how to start a conversation about mental health, the importance of self-care, and how to reach out for help.

Attendees will learn:

• What mental health is and how it's both similar to and different from, physical health

• How to notice signs of someone needing help

• Tips and strategies for having a caring conversation with someone they might be worried about

• Methods of self-care for mind, body, soul, and surroundings

• Examples of trustworthy resources

• How reaching out to trusted adults can help teens manage their mental health