This 14 hour Youth Mental Health First Aid course is aimed at equipping adults with the skills to recognise and respond to an adolescent who may be experiencing a mental health problem or crisis situation.
Course facilitator Lourene Liebenberg said it teaches participants how to support an adolescent until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
“The course improves knowledge of mental illness, treatments and first aid actions and, as such, increases confidence in providing first aid,” Mrs Liebenberg said.
“It also decreases stigmatising attitudes. Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers as to why people do not seek help.
“The course is a great place to debunk some myths, get factual information and learn the language and skills to have empathetic conversations and encourage people to seek appropriate professional help.”
Topics covered will include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
The course will be delivered over two days - July 25 and 26 - at the Deniliquin RSL Club.
It is made possible with funding from the Channel4Change, through the Deniliquin Mental Health awareness group.
Businesses and organisations will be asked to make a small contribution toward their course materials.
“This course is suitable for parents, carers, sport coaches, employers, teachers or anyone working or volunteering in the youth space,” Mrs Liebenberg said.
“It is open to anyone in the community wanting to learn these skills.”
To register, send an email to lourene@bigpond.com, or call 0428 281 060 for more information.
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