Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Certification: Tools for Supporting Teens During Challenging Times
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Now, more than ever, Jewish teens are in need of trusted adults in their lives who are actively engaged in their well-being. This moment in time is particularly difficult because existential challenges brought on by the war in Israel are piling on top of the day-to-day complicated lives of Jewish teens…creating a cumulative effect. If you are a Jewish youth professional who works with adolescents (12-18+ years old), this training is for you.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) enables youth professionals to recognize signs of distress and guide a young person toward appropriate treatments and other supportive health care. Participants will learn how to distinguish between typical adolescent development and symptoms of mental health challenges most common to young people; anxiety, depression, eating or substance use disorders, and the impact of social media and bullying. YMHFA emphasizes the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent who is in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. They will walk away with strategies for self-care and a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Participants who complete this course will earn a certificate that is valid for 3 years.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Erica Hruby at ehruby@jewishedproject.org
Erica Hruby
Erica Hruby, M.A. is a Jewish educator with nearly 30-years of teaching, curriculum writing, and professional development experience in Jewish community, academic, and residential environments. Erica serves as Senior Manager, National Teen Education and Engagement at The Jewish Education Project. She is also the founder of Anchored Parenting, LLC where she serves as a parent educator and coach. Erica has an M.A. from Georgia School of Professional Psychology in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children and adolescents. She lives on the West Coast of Florida with her high school sweetheart with whom she shares two adult daughters.
Beth Lipschutz
Beth Lipschutz, MSW is committed to supporting the mental health and wellness of youth and those who care about them. Her career has been focused on community building, leadership development, inclusion, and MESH education. This includes creating and facilitating different mental wellness programs and trainings, for both teens and adults. She is proud to be a part of BeWell, the mental health and wellness initiative of Jewish Federations of North America, in partnership with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, to help young people and those who care about them increase their understanding of how to best support mental health and wellness in the community.
Details
Setting
- Educator Training
- Teen Engagement
Target Audience
- Teens
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Join us for training and certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Pamela Schuller discusses the importance of bringing mental health dialogue into Jewish education.
This training equips Jewish youth professionals with the skills to recognize and address mental health issues.