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 this spring and summer. 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
helps those on the front lines – parents, teachers, coaches, medical personnel,
and youth group leaders – learn how to better support our youth.”
Upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid workshop
details:
- Dates: May 3, June 21, and July 13, 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, or to schedule a
private group training for your business or organization.
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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