Youth Mental Health First Aid

Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Gainesville United Methodist Church,  13710 Milestone Ct, Gainesville, VA 20155

The cost of this course is free and includes class material. The class schedule includes a 30-minute break around noon; bring your own lunch.

This course is provided by a certified mental health professional from the Prince William County Community Services office. It is for any adult who works with youth in our community and does not require registration in the BSA.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the leading cause of disability and bad life outcomes in young people is poor mental health. We have seen a significant increase in mental disorders in youth, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.  It is important for us as Scout leaders to be equipped to recognize youth who are struggling with mental health challenges.   

First Aid is the process of identifying the symptoms and being able to provide corrective action so that the person is stabilized and can be assisted. Mental Health First Aid is knowing the signs of mental issues for another person and how to stabilize and assist that person with finding the appropriate professional help.

As adult volunteers working with youth, we encounter multiple situations requiring our first aid skills, from a simple scrape to more serious injuries. This also applies to the mental health of our youth, from simple cases of depression to the more serious mental disorders that can lead to youth suicide. In this course, you will learn to:

• Know how to identify the symptoms of mental health
• Preserve life when a person may be a danger to self or others
• Prevent the problem from becoming more serious
• Provide comfort and support as well as promote recovery
• Help to identify or guide a person to appropriate resources and support