Health Department Offers Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

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LCHD 2017




For Immediate Release
Date: October 16, 2017
Contact: Hannah Goering
(847) 377-8099

Health Department Offers Youth Mental Health First Aid Training 

Waukegan, Ill. – The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is offering several Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings to the public in November 2017 and January 2018. The full-day workshops provide adults with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and support adolescents who are at risk or displaying warning signs of mental health/substance use problems or experiencing a mental health crisis.

“Young people (ages 15-24) represent 30 percent of mental health emergency room visits and 42 percent of hospital admissions related to suicide and self injury in Lake County,” said health department executive director, Mark Pfister. “This Youth Mental Health First Aid training is a wonderful learning experience that helps those on the front lines – parents, teachers, coaches, medical personnel, and youth group leaders – learn how to better support our youth.”

Youth Mental Health First Aid training workshop details:

Dates (additional dates will be added in the future):

  • November 7, 2017
  • November 16, 2017
  • January 9, 2018
  • January 23, 2018

Time: 8:00-8:30 a.m. registration and refreshments, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. workshop with a 30-minute lunch break on your own.

Location: Lake County Health Department, 3010 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, IL.

Cost: $20 per participant.

Advanced registration is required. Visit www.lakecountyil.gov/3980/Training-Opportunities or call Angela Stefani at (847) 377-8961 for more information.

A 2012 report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that 5 percent of children nationally between the ages of 4-17 had a serious emotional disturbance (SED). Previous research suggested the number may be as high as 9-13 percent. Based on these figures, it is estimated that between 9,890 (5 percent) and 25,714 (13 percent) of children in Lake County may have experienced an SED. Additionally, a state report on mental illness for youth and adults found that approximately 7 percent of Illinois youth under age 18 have a serious emotional disorder.

In January 2017, the health department’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services (CABS) program received a grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation to help increase public understanding of mental illness and how to respond to youth experiencing a mental health crisis through the implementation of Mental Health First Aid. The training curriculum is provided through USA Mental Health First Aid, www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org.

About Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services

The Lake County Health Department’s Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Services (CABS) program provides counseling and case management services to Lake County youth and their families. CABS staff provide culturally competent care and strive to help youth and their families develop positive coping techniques, communication skills and the means to manage mental health issues while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For more information, call (847) 377-8950.

 

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LCHD logo 2017

Lake County Health Department
3010 Grand Avenue
Waukegan, Illinois 60085
(847) 377-8000