DOE Youth Mental Health First Aid training spreading across NH


    CONCORD, NH – Youth Mental Health First Aid, a training class offered by the Bureau of Student Wellness at the New Hampshire Department of Education, crossed the 3,500 attendance mark. The training is designed to guide parents, educators, and others who regularly interact with young people through non-crisis and crisis mental health situations. In December 2018, the number of first aid trainees reached 3,524.

    Another 56 instructors were trained in collaboration with other organizations like Merrimack County Juvenile Services, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, and the Community Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester. More individuals and instructors will be trained this year.

    Youth Mental Health First Aid introduces attendees to common mental health challenges for young people and reviews adolescent development information. The class offers a five-step plan to assist helping adolescents from 12 to 18 who may suffer from anxiety, depression, substance misuse, disruptive behavior disorders, and other disorders. Youth Mental Health First Aid is also now a key recommendation of the Governor’s School Safety Preparedness Taskforce.


    ⇒NH STUDENT WELLNESS TOOLKIT


    “Equipping parents, educators and community members to effectively support the children in our state helps everyone,” stated Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the NH DOE. “We want our children, communities and state to have resilience to not just endure, but thrive even when life confronts us with difficult circumstances.”

    The course has been offered by the bureau since 2014 and is funded by Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education) grants.

    Upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid courses will be held at the NH DOE, Londergan Hall, Room 15, 101 Pleasant St. in Concord, on the following dates:

    • From noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8, 2019.
    • From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 31.

    The courses are free of charge.


    For more information about Youth Mental Health First Aid or to register for the future classes, visit the Bureau of Student Wellness website at https://www.nhstudentwellness.org/ymhfa.html.