Lessons Learned Training Youth Mental Health First Aid
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
University of Mississippi
First Presenter’s Email Address
perryman@olemiss.edu
First Presenter's Brief Biography
Mandy L. Perryman, Ph.D., LPC, NCC is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator in Counselor Education at the University of Mississippi. She has been a counselor educator for more 17 years. In addition, Dr. Perryman is a certified trainer in Youth Mental Health First Aid and educates K-12 personnel on identifying mental health challenges and substance issues in adolescents.
Second Presenter's Institution
University of Mississippi
Second Presenter’s Email Address
sllusk@olemiss.edu
Second Presenter's Brief Biography
Dr. Lusk Smith has taught and researched in the areas of addiction and rehabilitation for approximately 20 years. She is the recipient of over $4 million in grant funding from the Department of Education/Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Center for International Rehabilitation Research and Information Exchange (CIRRIE). She has also served on advisory and editorial boards for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and has developed addiction curricula for national and international organizations including SAMHSA’s Minority Fellowship Program and the Colombo Plan, which is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her research interests include alternative treatments for chronic pain (i.e., CBD and medical marijuana) and co-occurring mental health disorders. She is also a certified trainer in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Location
Session Five Breakouts (Scarbrough 4)
Strand #1
Health: Mental & Physical Health
Strand #2
Hands: Safety & Violence Prevention
Relevance
As Youth Mental Health First Aid trainers, we are able to pass along what we have learned from presenting this international, early intervention program to K-12 teachers, staff, administrators, school counselors, coaches, etc. Bringing awareness to mental health issues, as well as substance abuse in youth and learning how to communicate with connect young people to appropriate resources supports the mission of promoting mental health for all young people and ensuring their safety.
Brief Program Description
As Youth Mental Health First Aid trainers, we would like to share the lessons we have learned from presenting this psychoeducational curriculum across Mississippi. In our workshops with teachers, school counselors, principals, and so many others, we have learned some valuable lessons about how to listen to young people without judgement, spot the signs of mental health difficulties, and facilitate referrals for additional supports.
Summary
We provide virtual and in-person workshops to K-12 personnel and others who work with adolescents on Youth Mental Health First Aid. This program was developed over 20 years ago and has been revised and updated to meet the needs of young people today. The program has been well-researched and as grant-funded trainers, we also collect and analyze data on our own trainings to evaluate its efficacy and our own areas for improvement. Strategies in the training include how to demonstrate nonjudgmental listening, respond in a crisis and non-crisis situation, and how to practice self-care to be a resilient and well helper. Attendees can benefit from the take home strategies given to workshop participants, as well as learn what participants have taught us (the trainers) about what mental health challenges and substance issues look like for them today in their schools and communities.
Evidence
The program has been implemented in over 25 countries to date. It is evidence-based and has had numerous studies validate its effectiveness. Some key references and resources are American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayo Clinic, Mental Health America and Mental Health First Aid Training and Research Program.
Learning Objective 1
Participants will be able to examine mental health and substance abuse from a developmental perspective.
Learning Objective 2
Participants will be able to understand how they can listed without judgement to young people.
Learning Objective 3
Participants will be able to appreciate the perspectives of K-12 personnel who have been trained in YMHFA .
Keyword Descriptors
youth mental health first aid, education, shared learning
Presentation Year
2023
Start Date
3-7-2023 10:15 AM
End Date
3-7-2023 11:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Perryman, Mandy L., "Lessons Learned Training Youth Mental Health First Aid" (2023). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 69.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2023/2023/69
Lessons Learned Training Youth Mental Health First Aid
Session Five Breakouts (Scarbrough 4)
As Youth Mental Health First Aid trainers, we would like to share the lessons we have learned from presenting this psychoeducational curriculum across Mississippi. In our workshops with teachers, school counselors, principals, and so many others, we have learned some valuable lessons about how to listen to young people without judgement, spot the signs of mental health difficulties, and facilitate referrals for additional supports.
