Teen Mental Health First Aid Training

October 21, 2022

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) will be conducting a teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training program as part of the MVRHS PE/Health curriculum. tMHFA is an evidence-based training that teaches high school students how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends and peers. Students will often turn to their peers when facing difficult situations and tMHFA teaches them they don’t have to take these problems on alone.

tMHFA will be taught by MVRHS guidance and counseling faculty members Amy Lilavois and Matt Malowski and Martha's Vineyard Public Schools All-Island Behavioral Health Coordinator Kim Garrison.  All instructors teaching the course have received special training and are certified to teach the course by Mental Health First Aid USA at the National Council for Behavioral Health.

tMHFA training will be taught to all MVRHS sophomores as part of the MVRHS PE/Health curriculum. The training will be conducted in 6 sessions of 45 minutes each and sophomores will rotate through the training. The entire sophomore class will receive the training over the course of the school year.  The second offering of the course begins on November 7th and runs through December 7th. 

The course discusses issues like school violence and suicide that some teens may find distressing. You may wish to discuss them with your child before the training or encourage discussions afterward.

The following is an overview of what will be addressed: 

• Recognize early warning signs that a friend is developing a mental health challenge. 

• Recognize warning signs that a friend may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Describe how to talk to a friend about mental health and seeking help. 

• Explain when and how to get a responsible adult involved. 

• Discuss where to find appropriate and helpful resources about mental health challenges and professional help. 

• Apply the tMHFA Action Plan to help a friend with a mental health challenge or crisis. Teens will receive a Certificate of Completion for taking the course and a manual to use during the course that they can take home after the last session. In the manual are resources that you may want to explore with your child. If you want to learn more now, visit the following resources:

If you have any questions about Mental Health First Aid or concerns about your child participating in the training, please contact MVRHS guidance counselors Amy Lilavois or Matt Malowski. 

49.5% of adolescents ages 13-18 live with a mental disorder. More than 1 in 5 (22.2%) experience a severe impairment.

50% of all mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by the mid-20s.

10.2% of youth will be diagnosed with a substance use disorder in their lifetime.

1IN 5 teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth age 15-19.

Sources: 

• National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.) Statistics: mental illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness

• Kessler, R., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K.R., Walters, E.E. (2005, June). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSMIV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry. 62(6); 593-602. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593 

• National Center for Health Statistics. (n.d.) Adolescent health. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/adolescent-health.htm 

• Common signs and symptoms of mental illness

• Common signs and symptoms of substance use

• Common signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis, particularly suicide

• How to open the conversation about mental illnesses and addiction with friends

• The impact of school violence and bullying on mental health

• How to seek the help of a responsible and trusted adult.

https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/tMHFA_FAQ.pdf