Skip to main menu Skip to content
expand menu collapse menu
Login Store Subscribe Donate Facebook Instagram

Mental Health First Aid
for Youth

This course is also available in Spanish.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, 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 addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. To learn more, download the Mental Health First Aid for Youth one-pager.

 

Search for courses
To find a course or Instructor near you, enter your location below.

Why Mental Health Matters for Youth

1 in 5
One in five youth will experience a mental health challenge at some point during their life.
17.1 m
17.1 million youth under the age of 18 have or have had a psychiatric disorder – more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
7.4%
7.4% of children in the United States have a mental health visit in a given year.

How Youth Mental Health First Aid Can Help

icon
Informs adults about common mental health concerns among youth.
icon
Reduces stigma.
icon
Teaches adults how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use problems in youth.
icon
Provides adults with skills to use a 5-step action plan to help a youth who may be facing a mental health problem or crisis, such as suicide.

How MHFA Involves Parents and Guardians

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Mental Health First Aid know parents and guardians want to understand the ways schools and organizations care for their children’s mental health and wellbeing. That’s why it’s important to discuss Youth MHFA openly before the course starts.

We encourage schools and organizations to host information sessions and provide additional resources for parents and guardians to learn about the role of a Youth Mental Health First Aider, ways to support their children’s mental health, and ask questions and raise concerns.

 

Learn More

To read more about how Mental Health First Aid is helping critical populations,
check out our case studies , or read our blog and filter by population type.

Support Youth Who Have Experienced Trauma

 

Whether you work with children and youth, or you’re a parent or a caring neighbor, you can play a critical role in helping children and youth thrive. After receiving your certification as a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, we’ll enroll you — at no charge — in Strong Resilient Youth: Supporting Children and Youth Experiencing Trauma. To learn more, download the Strong Resilient Youth marketing flyer.

 

This free training will help you explain what trauma is and how it presents itself in children and youth; recognize when and how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other potentially traumatic events affect children’s and youth’s abilities to learn and engage; learn how trauma manifests in communities and why communities of color are disproportionately affected; and practice an effective approach to building stronger relationships with children and youth, helping them to build resiliency and positive coping strategies.

 

While this course is endorsed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the Strong Resilient Youth: Supporting Children and Youth Experiencing Trauma training does not contribute to Mental Health First Aid Certification or Instructor Certification requirements.

Latest News & Updates

See All News  
youth posing for a picture

An Essential Education: Mental Health First Aid for Emerging Adults

As young adults carve out their place in the world, their new interests and pursuits often push them away from the scaffolding of the familiar – family and high school friend groups – leaving many feeling untethered as they transition to adulthood. Youth who have experienced trauma or identify as part of marginalized populations may be particularly vulnerable. Psychologist Jeffrey Arnett (2006) identified this pivotal […]...

Read More March 18
boys basketball team texting from the bench

What Student Athletes (and Their Coaches) Need to Know About Mental Health

Read More
two teen boys reading books and talking on a sidewalk

Give Teens Permission to Talk About Mental Health

Read More
smiling teacher with students working at computers behind her

Equipping Adults with the Skills to Support Students in Need

Read More