A new school year has begun. Over the last few weeks, families travelled the aisles of every mart and market stocking up on gear and supplies. Generous community partners have donated to schools, The Newton County Sherriff’s Department, and Youth Empowerment Society among others for book bags full of school supplies to give away at back to school celebrations. Teachers and staff attended trainings and workshops to prepare engaging lessons for the new students who have now filled their classrooms. Now I have a question for you; in all this preparation for a new school year, did you add anything to your mental health skill set?
Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. You may be surprised to know that 1 in 5 U.S. adults will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, and approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their adolescence. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%. It is safe to say that many people can relate to the impact of mental illness in their own lives or in the lives of family and friends.
Educators encounter students on a daily basis who are navigating childhood and adolescence with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health conditions. As we work tirelessly to educate them in a safe and orderly environment, we must remember that mental and behavioral wellness factors heavily into how children cope with daily challenges, make decisions, problem solve, and build healthy relationships. Schools play a vital role in the system of care that supports families who are managing the mental wellness of their children.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is something that we encourage everyone in Newton County to add to their skill set for a successful school year. This international training is provided to school staff, parents/guardians, and community members to prepare them to identify and assist a young person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge. After completing an 8-hour course in Youth Mental Health First Aid, participants hold a 3-year certification and are equipped with the following valuable skills:
Identifying the signs – There are differences between typical adolescent development and signs that a youth is facing a mental health problem. This course offers great insight and opportunities for discussion to help participants discern the difference and decide when to offer support to a young person.
Starting the conversation – Depending on our own cultural backgrounds and beliefs, conversations about mental wellness can be difficult for both adults and children. This course allows participants to examine those difficulties, break down the stigma around sharing mental health challenges, and learn how to create a safe space for youth who are struggling.
Becoming familiar with resources – We all play different roles in the lives of youth, so as mental health first aiders, it is important to know the appropriate resources available in our school and community to support the youth and the family that we are assisting. Each person’s mental health journey is unique, so we understand that resources are not one-size-fit-all. Participants will learn about local, state, and national mental health agencies.
Newton County School System Project AWARE offers Youth Mental Health First Aid training courses throughout the school year for the affordable price of FREE to anyone who is interested in gaining the skills detailed above. Follow this link to register for one of the upcoming trainings on our calendar or visit https://goo.gl/32k6lw. If you have a group of 10 or more who like to schedule a training on an alternate date, contact Adrienne Boisson at boisson.adrienne@newton.k12.ga.us or (770) 784-2364 to discuss scheduling details. We invite you to visit the NCSS Project AWARE website to learn more about how we function in the school system and collaborate with community partners to decrease stigma, increase awareness, and improve access to mental health resources for youth in Newton County School System. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube by our username: @NCSSProjectAWARE. To learn more about Youth Mental Health First Aid, follow @MHFirstAidUSA on Twitter or search the hashtag #BeTheDifference.
Adrienne Boisson is the Director of Project AWARE, Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education, a department in Newton County School System. Adrienne is a former Math teacher, 2009 Teacher of the Year, and Graduation Coach at Newton High School.
