Northwest Community Healthcare hosts Mental Health First Aid Course

Youth with mental health disorders often experience difficulties in a variety of settings, including at home with their own families, in school and in the community. Parents, teachers, coaches, clergy and others may struggle to recognize and manage the needs of these adolescents.

Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, part of NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health, is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid at Northwest Community Healthcare in Arlington Heights on Thursday, July 20 from 4-9 p.m. This course is designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis.

Topics covered will include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD) and eating disorders.

Participants will learn signs and symptoms of mental illness, protective factors/risk factors and intervention strategies. The training objectives include how to safely and effectively support a person experiencing mental health distress.

The course is held in two parts, first as a required 2-hour, self-paced online class, followed by a 5-hour in-person, instructor-led class. Six CEUs are available for LCSW/LSW, LCPC/LPC, LMFT, Psyd. For more information or to register, visit https://072023bmhfa.eventbrite.com.