Skip to main menu Skip to content
expand menu collapse menu
Login Store Subscribe Facebook Instagram
Home Youth

Mental Health First Aid
for Youth

This course is also available in Spanish.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. To learn more, download the Mental Health First Aid for Youth one-pager.

 

Search for courses
To find a course or Instructor near you, enter your location below.

Why Mental Health Matters for Youth

1 in 5
One in five youth will experience a mental health challenge at some point during their life.
17.1 m
17.1 million youth under the age of 18 have or have had a psychiatric disorder – more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
7.4%
7.4% of children in the United States have a mental health visit in a given year.

How Youth Mental Health First Aid Can Help

icon
Informs adults about common mental health concerns among youth.
icon
Reduces stigma.
icon
Teaches adults how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use problems in youth.
icon
Provides adults with skills to use a 5-step action plan to help a youth who may be facing a mental health problem or crisis, such as suicide.

Learn More

To read more about how Mental Health First Aid is helping critical populations,
check out our case studies , or read our blog and filter by population type.

Latest News & Updates

See All News  
smiling teacher with students working at computers behind her

Equipping Adults with the Skills to Support Students in Need

Being part of this has been awesome. As a trainer, I get to help people really see the importance of Youth Mental Health First Aid. I am so passionate about this program and I want to be sure that everyone — teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers — has an opportunity to be engaged. Getting to the 80% mandate took a lot of work. It […]...

Read More September 14
a smiling teacher helps students with their work

Impacting Mental Health Beyond School Walls

Read More
teacher calls on students with their hands raised

Building Capacity and Giving Grace: How YMHFA Helps Teachers and School Personnel

Read More
a teen and his parents sit on a park bench

Five Ways to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health

Read More