HOWELL – On Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Howell Alliance for substance use prevention and mental health awareness is hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid certification training at the Howell municipal building, 4567 Route 9 North.
A virtual pre-training component must be completed prior to the in-person training, according to a press release from the alliance.
This six-hour training will give adults the tools needed to identify when youths may be struggling with a mental health or substance use problem and to connect youths with appropriate support and resources when necessary, according to the press release.
Although one in five Americans has a mental illness, people of all ages are reluctant to seek help due to fear of stigmas or because they may not know where to turn for care, according to the press release.
Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can be difficult to detect. For friends and family members, it can be hard to know when and how to step in. As a result, those in need of mental health services often do not get them until it is too late, according to the press release.
Mental health first aid prepares participants to confidently interact with a person who is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Mental health first-aiders learn a five-step action plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support, according to the press release.
The Oct. 2 training session will be the eighth mental health first aid training session sponsored or hosted by the Howell Alliance; to date, 82 community members and professionals have been certified through these training sessions, according to the press release.
To register, visit Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-mental-health-first-aid-certificate-training-tickets-166548307471
Participants will need to bring their own food and drinks for the day and complete a virtual segment of the training prior to attending. For event information, contact Christa Riddle by email at criddle@twp.howell.nj.us or call 732-938-4500, ext. 4012.
