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1 in 5 children and adolescents experience a mental health problem during their school years including depression, anxiety, bullying, alcohol or substance abuse, family problems, and/or learning disability, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Supporting the mental health of students can be more effective when multiple facets of the school community work together.
YMHA Staff offer trainings for any educators, administrators, coaches, and students. Read more below.
The staff of VOiCE Up Berks are certified to provide QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention from the QPR Institute. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Gatekeepers can be anyone, including parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. QPR is taught in a clear, concise format using the latest in educational technology and practices.
KEY COMPONENTS COVERED IN TRAINING:
How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide
The common causes of suicidal behavior
The warning signs of suicide
How to get help for someone in crisis
Length of Training: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target Audience: Secondary Level Students and Adults
If interested, please email mentalhealth@voiceupberks.org for further inquiries.
Suicide Safer Homes (for teachers and admin)
Suicide Safer Homes (for teachers and admin)
The staff of VOiCE Up Berks is certified to provide training in Suicide Safer Homes. In an effort to prevent the tragedy of suicide, Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes teaches participants how to identify the warning signs and risk factors for suicide and how to put time and distance between the person at risk and lethal means. It informs participants in the role they can play in preventing suicide, by reducing access to lethal means, particularly firearms, with safe, responsible, and legal measures. Two out of every three firearm related deaths is suicide, this course focuses on men and veterans who disproportionately use firearms to end their lives.
KEY COMPONENTS COVERED IN TRAINING:
How to identify warning signs and risk factors
How to use safe strategies for reducing access to lethal means
Learning practical tips for increasing safety
Length of Training: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target Audience: 18+
If interested, please email mentalhealth@voiceupberks.org for further inquiries.
*most appropriate for the general public*
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training (for teachers and admin)
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training (for teachers and admin)
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Length of training: The seven-hour course starts with two hours of self-paced, online course work that you can do anytime followed by five hours of instructor-led training. For most trainings, the instructor-led portion of the training is done via Zoom.
Target Audience: 18+
If interested, please email mentalhealth@voiceupberks.org or further inquiries.
*most appropriate for the general public*
Currently, YMHA is working to establish afterschool clubs in school districts across Berks County. Read more about this initiative below.
After School Clubs
After School Clubs
We know that peer-to-peer relationships are a vital source of support for youth struggling with their mental health. Youth need a space to feel safe when sharing how they feel, and to feel confident they have a community to lean on. A school environment can be that place.
Youth Mental Health Ambassadors are in the process of developing afterschool clubs, advised by respective teachers and youth leaders in order to advocate for mental health resources in their own schools.
If interested, please email mentalhealth@voiceupberks.org for further inquiries.
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