Mental Health Awareness Month
In honor of #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, the Y is raising awareness about mental health, sharing resources, and encouraging conversations to help individuals understand how they can care for themselves as well as others.
More than 110 North Carolina YMCA Youth Development staff were certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) as of March 31, with more being trained regularly. As certified First Aiders, Y staff can respond with the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE):
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
- Listen nonjudgmentally.
- Give reassurance and information.
- Encourage appropriate professional help.
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
North Carolina Ys are committed to understanding and identifying the common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), as well as signs and symptoms of substance use challenges. We’re committed to knowing how to interact with a teen in crisis and how to connect youth to help.
The course is available to teachers, parents and others who interact with teens regularly. Interested in becoming YMHFA certified? Check out these free training dates coming up; trainings will be added regularly through September.
Also check out the Y's Teen Mental Health Resource Hub, designed for teens and their caregivers.
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #TeenMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthHasNoFace
(May 2, 2024)