Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

 Youth Mental Health First Aid is a certification course through the National Council of Behavioral Health that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds an understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help adolescents in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. This course was recently revised and is now offered as a combination of a 2-hour self-paced online course plus a ~4-hour synchronous training over Zoom. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis, select intervention, provide initial help, and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help. The Jewish Education Project will provide Jewish framing, considerations related to our Jewish communities, and used adapted scenarios applicable to those working in Jewish Youth settings.

 

The course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, ADHD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorders.

*This is a certificate program. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling- rather, participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan.

 

Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET

Fee: $25.00

About the Facilitator:

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Rebecca Ruberg | Rebecca Ruberg serves as a Teen Education and Engagement consultant and has previously held a number of positions focused on engaging teens and young adults in meaningful Jewish experiences. She is a certified instructor for the Youth Mental Health First Aid curriculum. 

Prior to joining the Jewish Education Project, she served as an Associate Program Officer for Legacy Heritage Fund and the Nachshon Project, the Area Director for the NY/CT region of Jewish Student Connection, and as a Field Worker for the Connecticut Valley Region of BBYO. Rebecca received her MA from the Hornstein Program for Jewish Professional Leadership at Brandeis University and concentrated her studies in informal Jewish education and engagement. She additionally holds a certificate in Jewish Philanthropy from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, and a BA in Psychology and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) from Brandeis University.