A local nonprofit is planning a youth mental health training for adults in June.
Upstream Prevention, a Greenwood-based nonprofit, will hold a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for adults who regularly interact with youth, such as family members, teachers or youth care workers. The training will teach adults how to assist with youth, ages 12-18 who are experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge, or who are in crisis, according to an Upstream Prevention news release.
One-in-five adults and one-in-five-youth experience mental health challenges. Data from Mental Health America’s online screeners from 2020-21 show that 87 people per 100,000 in Johnson County have severe depression, and that the county reported frequent suicidal ideations at a rate of 80 per 100,000, according to the news release.
The training is free and requires two hours of online-pre-work to be completed before the day of the class. The class takes place at 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 3 at the Valle Vista Health System Outpatient Services Building, 898 E. Main St., Greenwood.
Those interested are encouraged to register by May 20, and can register online at june3youthmhfa.eventbrite.com. Participants will be contacted following registration about the steps required before the training, the news release says.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, there are resources available, according to Upstream Prevention. You can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text IN to 741741. Upstream Prevention also has a list of local mental health resources on our website at upstreamprevention.org.
