Practice radical inclusion by assuming that at least one young person you know will experience a mental health challenge this year. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five youth and young adults in the US lives with a mental health condition.

As a faith organization we focus on the twin tasks of building spiritual resilience and dismantling unjust conditions that contribute to or exacerbate mental illness. That is why pairing mental health support with Unitarian Universalist principles is critical right now.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a model of support developed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. YMHFA is based on an action plan that 1) focuses on ensuring youth have a voice and a choice in their mental health care and recovery & 2) teaches people how to respond in a crisis or emergency situation.

In this training you will learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and crises in youth and practice applying appropriate steps to help youth.

The training totals 8 hours, which includes two hours of self-paced content and two three-hour, instructor-led group learning sessions on Zoom. Upon completion of the course you will receive a Mental Health First Aider certificate and access to a community forum with other Unitarian Universalist mental health first aiders.

The course is offered on a sliding scale from $0-$80, with the actual cost of instruction being $40 per person. Open trainings are offered monthly. Private trainings are offered by request.