Soul Shop™ Mental Health First Aid for Youth

Youth Mental Health First Aid equips leaders and parents to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health or substance use issues in young people, providing crucial skills for initial support during early concerns or crises.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (yMHFA)

(AGES 12-18)

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a comprehensive course designed to empower adults with the skills to support adolescents (ages 12-18) who are experiencing mental health or addiction challenges, or who are in crisis.

This course is ideal for:

  • Parents

  • Family members

  • Caregivers

  • Teachers

  • School staff

  • Peers

  • Neighbors

  • Health and human services workers

  • Other caring community members

What You'll Learn:

The course introduces participants to:

  • Common mental health challenges faced by youth

  • Typical adolescent development

  • A 5-step action plan to assist young people in crisis and non-crisis situations

Topics Covered:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Substance use

  • Psychosis-related disorders

  • Disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD)

  • Eating disorders

Course Formats Available:

  • Blended Training

    • Duration: 6.5 hours in person

    • Combines online learning with in-person instruction.

  • In-Person Training (Preferred)

    • Duration: 8 hours

    • Fully immersive, hands-on training experience.

Additional Resources:

Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA)

Age 15-18 - Grades 10-12

Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) is a training program designed for teens in grades 10-12 (ages 15-18) to equip them with the skills to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use challenges among their peers.

What Teens Will Learn:

Teens will gain valuable skills to:

  • Recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in friends and peers

  • Have supportive conversations

  • Seek help from a responsible, trusted adult when necessary

Who Developed the Program:

This program was brought to the United States by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in partnership with the Born This Way Foundation.

Additional Resources: