Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This three year certification gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to adolescents (ages 12-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

YMHFA trainingS will be provided in collaboration with Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHA) Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities or Coastal Plains Community Center trainers.  It will requires a 2 hour prerequisite online course prior to attending the virtual class. Registration closes one week before class date at 11:59pm.

• Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities can only provide training for school employees in NUECES COUNTY.
• Coastal Plains Community Center can only provide training for school employees in ARANSAS, BEE, BROOKS, DUVAL, KLEBERG, KENEDY, JIM WELLS, LIVE OAK AND SAN PATRICIO COUNTIES.
• Participants must register with a district email from the specified counties.   Registrants without district emails or are from outside the specified counties will not be placed in a YMHFA course.
• After the registration deadline expires, the LMHA will then send a link to the 2 hour course to registered participants.
• Candidates will need to complete the 2 hour online course prior  to the 4 hour virtual class session. 
• LMHAs will send a Zoom link those participants who have completed the 2 hour online prerequisite course.
• Registration will close up to 14 days prior to the virtual class date.  The time is needed for the National Council  to set up participants in the online course.  
• Participants cannot switch classes or substitute a different participant once registration closes due to grant funded purchase of online course. 

The course will teach you how to apply the ALGEE action plan:

• Assess for risk of suicide or harm
• Listen non-judgmentally
• Give reassurance and information
• Encourage appropriate professional help
• Encourage self-help and other
support strategies