Area residents will have two opportunities in coming months to attend free Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings.
United Services will be holding the free 8-hour course on Wednesday, February 3 and again on Wednesday March 2 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day at United Services Dayville office, 1007 North Main Street, Dayville.
There is limited availability for this award winning training, serving as the mental health equivalent to CPR to provide individuals with the skills to assist in a mental health crisis until professional assistance can be provided. Residents need only attend one session to become certified but must attend the full session.
Those interested in attending should register by contacting Emily Morrison of United Services at info@usmhs.org or calling 860-774-2020.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults — family members, caregivers, school staff, health and human services workers, etc. — who work with young people 12-25, providing instruction on how to help a child or teen who is experiencing a mental health or substance use problem or is in crisis. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
“We’re happy to offer this free community Mental Health First Aid Training made possible through the tireless work of the family and friends of Jack Young Jr. to raise funds and help our community break through the stigma of mental illness,” said John Goodman, Director of Development and Communications for United Services. “Youth Mental Health First Aid training is an important resource to help train community members on how to provide basic care and support until professional assistance is available.”
Those who finish the course to certify as Mental Health First Aiders will learn a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help a youth in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care. Funding for this community training is made possible thanks to the proceeds of the annual “Particle Accelerator” benefit rock concert in memory of Jack Young, Jr.
About United Services, Inc.
United Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit and comprehensive behavioral health center, creating healthy communities throughout northeast Connecticut for nearly 50 years through mental health and social service programs, chemical abuse treatment, domestic violence programs, and community behavioral health prevention and education programs. With 12 locations and a staff of over 250, United Services operates more than 30 separate behavioral health programs, including the only domestic violence shelter for women and children in the region. United Services is also the designated Youth Service Bureau in 10 towns within its service area, and its Center for Autism has recently brought specialized treatment and programs for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families to eastern Connecticut and surrounding areas. United Services, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. To learn more, visit www.UnitedServicesCT.org.