Youth Mental Health First Aid USA - Continuing Education

Youth Mental Health First Aid USA

The Youth Mental Health First Aid USA curriculum is primarily focused on information participants can use to help adolescents and transition-age youth, ages 12-18.

Programs (current)
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Scheduled Courses
Information

Description:

This course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder.

Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

This course fulfills the requirement for mental health first aid training (Senate Bill 133) for all school district employees in the state of Texas.

Details:

What You Will You Learn:
• The unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents.
• Understand the importance of early intervention.
• How to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.
• Assess for risk of suicide or harm
• Listen nonjudgmentally
• Give reassurance and information
• Encourage appropriate professional help
• Encourage self-help and other support strategies

The course is designed for adults who regularly interact with adolescents (teachers, school staff, coaches, youth group leaders, parents, etc.), but is being tested for appropriateness within older adolescent groups (16 and older) so as to encourage youth peer to peer interaction. In January 2013, President Obama recommended training for teachers in Mental Health First Aid. Since 2008, the core Mental Health First Aid course has been successfully offered to more than 175,000 people across the USA, including hospital staff, employers and business leaders, faith communities, law enforcement, and the general public.

No prerequisites required.

Nancy Razo, Ph.D., LSSP

Dr. Nancy Peña Razo received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and her doctorate in School Psychology from Texas A&M University. She is licensed as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP). Dr. Razo has been a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) instructor since 2012 and is also a certified instructor in the Spanish version of YMHFA, Primeros Auxilios para la Salud Mental de los Jóvenes. She is now also an instructor for the Adult version of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) with designations in the Higher Education Module and the Public Safety Module as well as the Spanish version of Mental Health First Aid. Dr. Razo has worked in a variety of settings that have allowed her to work with individuals of all ages experiencing mental health issues. Dr. Razo is currently the School Psychology Program Coordinator in the College of Education & P-16 Integration at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where she is also an Associate Professor in Practice. Dr. Razo is an approved Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider through the Texas Education Agency.

Edinburg Course Information

Days:
TBA

Dates:
TBA

Times:
TBA

Format:
In-Class

Location:
Lecture: Edinburg CESS Building

Instructor:
Dr. Nancy Peña Razo

Cost:
$ 89**

Notes:
** Course fee includes materials.
The reduced fee applies to groups of 10 or more.