Community Corner
ASTORINO TO PRESENT “YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID”
Westchester is the first in New York to offer this training county wide
Program part of "Safer Communities" initiative in response to Newtown tragedy
County Executive Robert P. Astorino, along with the Department of Community Mental Health and Westchester Jewish Community Services, will present "Youth Mental Health First Aid," a new Safer Communities initiative, Thursday, March 13 at 9 a.m. at the Westchester County Center.
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Youth Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized program that teaches participants to provide "first aid" to youth, ages 12 to 18, for a range of mental health challenges. The training will be available to adults throughout the county thanks to a partnership between Westchester Jewish Community Services and the Department of Community Mental Health. It is aimed at those who spend time with young people in schools, faith-based organizations, community groups, sports leagues, camps and recreation programs.
Few issues are more difficult and require more sensitivity and understanding than when it comes to how mental illness can afflict our children. The statistics are staggering. Approximately, 20 percent of kids ages 13 to 18, either currently or at some point during their lives have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.
The dilemma for adults is that they don’t want to miss warning signs and at the same time they don’t want to jump to the wrong conclusions that could stigmatize youngsters. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to help on both fronts. Teach adults how to recognize warning signs and then equally important equip them to come up the right response. Specifically, participants will learn a five-step method to respond to young people facing a mental health challenge, which will be demonstrated on Thursday.
Find out what's happening in Pelhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Department of Community Mental Health in partnership with Westchester Jewish Community Services will provide the training free to the first 30 enrollees.
This initiative is the latest in a series of collaborative efforts between community leaders and county officials to offer practical and cost-effective ways to prevent violence. In February 2013, County Executive Astorino launched Safer Communities in response to the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn. last December.
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