Providence’s Mental Health First-Aid Training course aims to help save lives
Mental health difficulties are on the rise among adolescents across the nation. According to an article in Psychology Today, ER visits for anxiety, self-harm and mood disorders have risen sharply since 2019, and among 10- to 24-year-olds, suicide rates have risen 60% since 2018.
To better serve the Los Angeles community, Providence hospitals in Southern California offer Youth Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training that teaches parents, caregivers, teachers, neighbors and peers ways to identify, understand and respond to adolescents and teens (ages 12-18) experiencing mental health challenges.
The free, eight-hour course is offered both in-person and virtually, in English and Spanish.
“The training gives background information to recognize signs and symptoms and listen nonjudgmentally,” said Lucia Vides, a community health supervisor with Providence. “The acquired tools participants learn are not meant to enable them to diagnose but rather help save a life.”
Course leaders use a mix of real-world scenarios and videos to help participants learn basic steps to render aid and act as a lifeline for struggling adolescents. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a three-year certification and are encouraged to renew it before it expires.
To learn more about how you can make a difference and to participate in an upcoming training, please contact 310-514-5483 or lucia.vides@providence.org.
