Get certified in mental health first aid at Young Israel of Hewlett

Posted

Young Israel of Hewlett will host a two-day mental health first aid certification course on Monday, Nov. 18 and Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 10 p.m., both nights. Stuart Katz, a former president of Young Israel of North Woodmere, who is coming in from Israel, will teach the course.

The Youth Mental Health First Aid course is designed to offer people the skills to help a young person who is experiencing a mental health crisis or intervene early to prevent a crisis from occurring. The program is based on the principle that early intervention prevents mental illness from becoming more severe by encouraging people to seek help early. The course teaches people ways to connect to the appropriate professional or encourage self-help care.

Learning the common signs and symptoms of mental illnesses in young people, including anxiety and depression, eating disorders, substance use, and how to interact with an adolescent in crisis and connect the adolescent with help will be discussed. It is most recommended for people who work with young people such as camp counselors, coaches, parents, teachers, school staff and youth group leaders.

It will cover, what is the role of a youth mental health first aider; youth mental health problems in the United States; prevalence of mental health disorders; adolescent development; panic attacks; the spectrum of interventions; the YMHFA action plan; signs and symptoms; non-suicidal self-injury; risk factors for developing a mental health disorder; protective factors; looking at anxiety, depression, eating disorders and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; self-care; assessing risk of suicide or harm and suicide warning signs; and listening non-judgmentally.

Roughly two million people worldwide have been certified in Mental Health First Aid. YIH is at 1 Piermont Ave. in Hewlett. Fee $50. Pay online at www.yihhewlett.org/payment. Note, Mental Health Course. Dinner included. Night one — pizza. Night two — pasta/salads.

For more information on mental health, go to https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/.