From National Council for Mental Wellbeing and in partnership with Hartford HealthCare

Registration Deadline: Sunday, April 2

Early registration is required as you will receive approximate 2 hours of self-paced prework to be completed in advance of the workshop date.

**Note: Completing the prework and workshop in full will provide you with a 3-year Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification.

Why Youth Mental Health First Aid?

Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18.

• 1 IN 5 teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition. (Source: National Alliance for Mental Illness)
• 50% of all mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by the mid-20s. (Source: Archives of General Psychiatry)

What Mental Health First Aid Covers:

• Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this age group, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
• Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
• How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.
• How to connect the youth with help.
• Expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care and the impact of social media and bullying.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Flyer

Recording & Slides: Please plan to attend this program as scheduled as it will not be recorded and slides will not be shared. Relevant resources and information will be shared on the GELS: Growing Equitable Library Services: Trauma Informed Services LibGuide page.

Who should come? Perfect for anyone interested in youth mental health, including Library Directors/Administrators, Children’s and YA Staff, and Library Board Members.

**Note: Library staff working in an academic setting will be best served by attending Youth Mental Health First Aid. The mental health content is the same while the language used and the methods for how to identify struggles in youth will be more relevant for the new adult age.

Accessibility: If you require another access service to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 14 days prior to the event.

Instructors:

Laura Majidian, LCSW is a recent graduate of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, where she obtained her Master of Social Work, and fulfilled her Advanced Year Internship within the Institute of Living’s Young Adult Services IOP and Adult Outpatient Clinic. Laura currently is a Clinician in the Right Track, an LGBTQ specialty track within the IOL’s Young Adult Services department. Prior to her current role, Laura worked with families in the IOL’s Family Resource Center, where she provided groups, lectures and other educational opportunities to the community. In addition to the work she does assisting clients, Laura is a Mental Health First Aid Trainer, and is certified in the adult, youth, and public safety modules. Laura is project coordinator and role-player for the IOL’s internally-developed Suicide Assessment Module (SAM) training.

Melissa Deasy, LCSW is a Director of Behavioral Health at Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital focusing on Residential and Ancillary Programs.  Prior to her Director role, Melissa had thirteen years of leadership experience at Hartford Healthcare as well as experience in multiple settings as a clinician focused on child and adolescent ambulatory programs.  In addition to managing the ambulatory programs, she co-facilitates a network wide committee for Zero Suicide and facilitates Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid.  Melissa has been a social worker for over 20 years and is devoted to working with social workers on developing their own passion within the field.  

Registration Deadline: Sunday, April 2