Youth Mental Health First Aid

What are the course aims?

• Spot the early signs of a mental health problem in young people
• Feel confident helping a young person experiencing a problem
• Provide help on a first aid basis
• Help protect a young person who might be at risk of harm
• Help prevent a mental health illness from getting worse
• Help a young person recover faster
• Guide a young person towards the right support
• Reduce the stigma of mental health problems

The Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) course outline -

Section 1:

• England's Child Health Care Policy
• Definition of mental health
• Adolescent development
• Common youth mental disorders
• Preventing mental health problems
• Promoting well-being and protective factors
• The Youth MHFA Action Plan

Section 2 - Anxiety and Depression:

• What are anxiety and depressive disorders?
• Signs and symptoms
• Crisis first aid for panic attacks
• Treatment and resources

Section 3 - Psychosis and Suicide:

• The facts about suicide
• Possible warning signs
• Crisis first aid for suicidal behaviour
• What is psychosis?
• Signs of psychosis
• Action planning for using MHFA
• Crisis first aid for acute psychosis
• Treatment and resources for psychosis

Section 4 - Self-harm, substance misuse and eating disorders:

• What is it
• Why is it important
• Possible causes
• Signs and symptoms
• Treatment and resources
• Action Planning using MHFA