Every school and youth club has at least one qualified first aider to help injured children. Now staff from these organisations are being trained to give mental health first aid to support young people showing signs of mental or emotional distress.
A dozen Hertfordshire professionals completed training in 2016 to become instructors in youth mental health first aid (MHFA), which means that they can train others to support children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.
Mental Health First Aid England trained staff from Public Health, Youth Connexions, Herts for Learning, colleges, the School Nursing Service and other agencies. These staff are now equipped with the skills and knowledge required to deliver the evidence-based MHFA youth training programme and raise awareness of emotional health issues and how people can best support 8 to 18 year-olds experiencing difficulties.
More than 400 professionals have been trained already.
For more details about training, email deborah.sheppard@hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk
