NAMI to hold Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings in Rangeley, Rumford

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Maine has announced Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings.

The Rangeley training will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Rangeley Lakes Regional School, 43 Mendolia Road.

The Rumford course will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at Mountain Valley High School, Room 305, Rumford.

The trainings are open to the public.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach adults how to help a youth or teen (ages 12 to 18) who is experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis. It uses a five-step action plan that covers how to assess a situation, listen non-judgmentally, give appropriate reassurance and information, encourage appropriate professional help and encourage self-help and other support strategies.

Other topics to be covered include the most common adolescent mental health diagnoses, differentiating between typical development and signs of a struggle, risk factors and warning signs, the impact mental health has on adolescents and how to intervene with an adolescent who is experiencing challenges.

The training meets the state mandate for school staff in suicide awareness. Those attending will earn eight continuing education credits and a three-year national certification from NCFBH.

To register for the event, visit www.namimaine.org/events or call 207-622-5767.

For more information on community training or scheduling a private training, contact Michael Morang at [email protected] or 207-622-5767, ext. 2312.