Teen Mental First Aid is for High School Students
Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) teaches high school students (ages 15-18) how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends and peers.
After the course, teens will be able to:
Recognize early warning signs that a friend is developing a mental health challenge.
Recognize warning signs that a friend may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
Know how to talk to a friend about mental health and seek help.
Understand when and how to get a responsible adult involved.
Share where to find appropriate and helpful resources about mental health challenges and professional help.
Effectively Apply the tMHFA Action Plan to help a friend with a mental health challenge or crisis.
The skills acquired in this course will aid young people in all person-focused interactions throughout their lives, forming a basis for focusing on their overall wellness, including both physical and mental health, as they move through life's stages.
Requirements
In a school setting:
Eligible students must be 15-18 years of age (sophomore through seniors)
Must teach the course to an entire grade level
At least 10% of the school staff must be certified Youth Mental Health First Aiders (see YMHFA page for details)
Course may be taught in six 45-minute sessions or three 90-minute sessions
Course cannot be taught on consecutive school days
If a youth-serving organization wishes to implement the course it is required to institute it for a critical mass of the 15-18 age population it serves.
