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.
