HEADLINE: Spot signs, save teens. First aid for mental health.

Travis County Invests $220K in Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Integral Care, Travis County's mental health authority, has been awarded a $220,000 grant from the county to address the youth mental health crisis. This critical funding, along with support from the St. David's Foundation and the state's Health and Human Services Commission, will enable Integral Care to train an additional 2,000 people in Youth Mental Health First Aid by December 2025.

Think of Mental Health First Aid like CPR or first aid, but for mental health. You'll learn to identify a crisis and connect people to professional care: https://integralcare.org/en/mhfa/

"There is a huge need for this. We are in a youth mental health crisis," said Leylee Morris, Mental Health First Aid program manager at Integral Care.

The CDC's 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed 42% of high schoolers had depression symptoms and 10% attempted suicide: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/mental-health-numbers.html

The early intervention program, developed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, has trained nearly 17,000 people since 2010, including over 3,600 in the Youth Mental Health First Aid program.

Who should take this training?

The youth training is designed for parents, teachers, youth group leaders, and anyone supporting adolescents ages 12-18. In other words, it's for all of us.

How can you sign up?

Sign up for community training or have Integral Care bring the training to your group: https://integralcare.org/en/mhfa/

Training is offered in-person, virtually, and hybrid, totaling 6-8 hours. Upcoming community classes: Aug. 30 and Sept. 13.

Is there a cost?

The training is FREE, thanks to funding from Travis County, providing $100 per participant for instructor costs.

What will you learn?

You'll learn to identify signs and symptoms of mental health problems and initiate conversations. "That's where most fears come in. What do we do next?" - Morris

You'll practice a 5-step action plan and learn what to say and what steps to take, including resources like calling 988 for a mental health emergency.

"People feel like they leave with a set of skills." - Morris

What's next?

Participants receive a 3-year certification in mental health first aid, similar to CPR or first aid certification. They remain connected to resources through Integral Care.

Let's face this youth mental health crisis head-on and empower our community with the skills to support our young people.