Let’s start with the statistics. One in ten young people experience a mental health issue at any one time. For those aged 5-19 suicide is the second most common cause of death, and a record number of children contacted Childline with suicidal thoughts in 2016/17.

In an average group of 30 15 year olds:

• Seven are likely to have been bullied
• Six may be self-harming
• One could have experienced the death of a parent

Record levels of young people are struggling. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty, lack of availability of professional mental health support – all have been named as contributing to this epidemic of poor mental health in our young people.

It’s clear that young people are not getting the support they need. Key figures in a young person’s life – parents, family members, teachers, tutors, carers, youth workers – can often spot when a young person is struggling but may not know how best to help.

Our Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are for anyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. We train the adults in a young person’s life to have the skills and confidence to step in, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, they can speed up a young person’s recovery, stop issues from developing into a crisis, and ultimately save lives.

But more than that, by giving these adults the information and skills to look after their own mental health, we want them to set an example for young people. We want adults to be able to show young people that mental ill health is a part of life in just the same way as physical ill health, that it’s OK to talk about and it’s OK to ask for help.

We hope that by giving people the tools to open up these conversations, we can empower them to create mentally healthy, supportive environments in their families, schools, youth groups and communities.

Let’s create a future where we all know how to look after our own mental wellbeing, so preventable issues don’t arise in the first place. A future where every young person has access to support if they need it.

Audience  :  Any adults working with children and young people in any capacity

Date option 1  :  Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th March 2021 (NB: Venue for this session to be confirmed)

Date option 2  :  Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th April 2021

Date option 3  :  Wednesday June 30th and Thursday July 1st 2021

Time  :  9:00am – 5:00pm

Venue   :  Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Cavendish Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, WA14 2NL

Cost  :  £300

Facilitated by  :  Lisa Wisher

Click here to apply for this course

Overview

Our Youth MHFA Two Day course qualifies you as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.

Youth Mental Health First Aiders have:

• An in depth understanding of young people’s mental health and factors that affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of mental health issues
• Confidence to reassure and support a young person in distress
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• Knowledge to help a young person recover their health by guiding them to further support – whether that’s through self-help sites, their place of learning, the NHS, or a mix – engaging with parents, carers and external agencies where appropriate
• Ability to support a young person with a long term mental health issue or disability to thrive
• Tools to look after their own mental wellbeing

What does it involve?

Day 1

Session 1: Youth Mental Health First Aid

• The Youth MHFA Action Plan
• Definition of mental health
• Adolescent development
• Common youth mental disorders
• Preventing mental health problems
• Promoting wellbeing and protective factors

Session 2: Depression and Anxiety

• What are depression and anxiety disorders?
• Signs and symptoms
• Possible causes
• Action planning using MHFA Youth

Day 2

Session 3:  Suicide & Psychosis

• The facts about suicide
• Possible warning signs
• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
• What is psychosis?
• Signs of psychosis
• Action planning using MHFA
• Treatment and resources for psychosis

Session 4:  Self-harm and eating disorders

• What are they?
• Why are they important?
• Possible causes
• Signs and symptoms
• Treatment and resources
• Action planning using MHFA