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Centra Wellness to offer training to spot youth mental health issues

Benzie County Record Patriot - 2/16/2017

BENZIE COUNTY - Centra Wellness is offering a series of free classes to help adults learn how to recognize the early stages of mental health crisis' in young people.

The program, entitled Youth Mental Health First Aid, is a certification course, which will teach participants a five-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with the appropriate professional, peer, social or self-help care.

The course will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 24, March 8 and March 11 at the Benzie Community Resource Center, room B, at 6051 Frankfort Highway.

The course can be taken on one of three dates.

"We are thrilled to bring Youth Mental Health First Aid to our community," said Cheryl Kobernik, clinical program director for Centra Wellness Network. "This public education program is an evidence-based prevention tool to improve our community's understanding of mental health and substance use problems among young people. It gives participants the confidence and skills they need to help a young person in crisis and connect them with care for their mental health or substance use problems."

The programs curriculum's focus is on teaching participants how to help an adolescent/transition youth (ages 12-18 and 18-25) who may be in the early stages of a mental health problem or crisis. Youth MHFA participants are adults who primarily interact with youth, such as parents, teachers, sports coaches and youth workers.

This public education program provides information that will help participants identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and chemical dependency disorders.

Training is offered as an interactive eight-hour course on the following:

* Mental illnesses and associated disorders;

* Risk factors and warning signs related to mental health;

* The impact of mental illnesses to families and communities; and

* An overview of common treatment approaches.

Lisa Tiesworth, prevention specialist for Centra Wellness and certified instructor for the program, said it originated in Australia, and has become popular in the states. Youth Mental Health First Aid is coordinated in the states by the National Council for Behavior Health, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

"Teenage depression has become so widespread - our little county isn't immune to it," Tiesworth said. "People who work with kids see the warning signs, but may think a kid is just going through a ?phase,' being dramatic or seeking attention. This class will teach people what kinds of things are normal, and which should raise red flags. It is a step-by-step process - here's what you look for, here's what you do."

She said rates of teen depression, and suicide have become one of the leading causes of death for young people.

For more information or to reserve a spot please call (231) 383-3195 or email ltiesworth@centrawellness.org.