Willowbrooke at Tanner, the behavioral health service of Tanner Health System, has received a special grant to provide free training to individuals throughout the community to help them respond when a child or adolescent is experiencing a behavioral health challenge or crisis.
The grant allows Tanner to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid training in Bartow, Carroll, Coweta and Paulding counties.
“It’s not unusual for those who work with children to notice a child who has suddenly become quiet and withdrawn, or one who suddenly becomes disruptive, mentions hurting himself or herself, says he or she has been hurt by someone else, can’t focus or exhibits other behavioral problems,” said Tori Goodling, program coordinator for Willowbrooke at Tanner’s Youth Mental Health First Aid training effort. “These situations would be a struggle for any parent, but become especially troubling when working with other people’s children.”
The eight-hour training course empowers adults to recognize signs of behavioral health problems — including anxiety, depression, substance use, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and more — in children and adolescents ages 12 to 18.
The training is targeted to anyone who works with youth, including those involved in education, child care, youth athletics, churches, community programs, law enforcement and more.
“The goal of the training is not to have participants begin to diagnose and treat behavioral health problems, but to recognize them and be proactive in helping children and adolescents access the health they need,” said Goodling.
Participants who complete the training will receive a certification and reference materials from the course to keep.
The Youth Mental Health First Aid program was designed by the National Council for Behavioral Health and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Accredited trainers from Willowbrooke at Tanner will lead the education programs locally.
The training can be offered on-site for interested groups of eight or more, or individuals can register online for scheduled training sessions at www.WillowbrookeAtTanner.org. To learn more about hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid training session, call 470.261.4555.