Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper

Panhandle Mental Health Center offers Youth Mental Health First Aid

Panhandle Mental Health Center has been offering the Mental Health First Aid program in local western Nebraska communities since 2012.

This free course to the community will be offered Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Chappell Fire Hall. Seating is limited so register now through the website: http://www.panhandlepartnership.com/training-academy. Additional Youth-MHFA courses will be offered in Scottsbluff in the spring of 2016, and courses for specific groups, organizations and businesses can be scheduled by contacting with Nichole Peralta or Phil Darley.

Mental Health First Aid is an eight-hour training certification course which teaches participants a five-step action plan to assess a situation, select and implement interventions and secure appropriate care for the individual. The certification program introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, and builds understanding of their impact and overviews common treatments.

There are two different courses; one target to people who work primarily with adults and those who work with youth ages 14-24. Thorough evaluations in randomized controlled trials and a quantitative study have proved the CPR-like program effective in improving trainees’ knowledge of mental disorders, adolescent development, the initial approach to someone who might be experiencing suicidality, reducing stigma and increasing the amount of help provided to others.

For more information or to participate in either an Adult or Youth-focused Mental Health First Aid training in any community in Western Nebraska, visit http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org or call Panhandle Mental Health Center and ask for Nichole Peralta (Adult Course) or Phil Darley (Youth Course) at (308) 635-3171.

 

Reader Comments(0)