Youth Mental Health First Aid training for adults

Published on 10 October 2024

Benalla Rural City Council in collaboration with the Live4Life program is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training aimed at equipping adults with vital skills to support young individuals facing mental health challenges.

The Live4Life Wrap-Around Model places young people at its centre. It delivers targeted, evidence-based mental health education and peer-led health promotion activities to young people.

The model’s peer mental health education program sees students from Benalla P-12 College, FCJ College, and Benalla Flexible Learning Centre undertaking training in Year 8 and Year 10. This reaches young people at two critical times in adolescence, empowering them to recognise mental health issues in themselves and others. Students are also taught to involve an adult if they are concerned for their wellbeing or the wellbeing of others, increasing their ability to act when they identify an issue.

Youth Mental Health First Aid training empowers our adult community and increases their competence and confidence in their ability to respond appropriately and efficiently when faced with young people’s mental ill-health until professional help is available.

Over time, the program is intended to drive generational change in the way we deliver support to young people, thus creating a strongly networked community.

Since the launch of Youth Mental Health First Aid training in Benalla, 194 adults have successfully completed the training through the Live4Life Benalla initiative.

With mental health becoming an increasing priority, Live4Life through Benalla Rural City Council is once again offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training for Benalla residents.

The training will be conducted over four sessions on the following dates:

▪ 5pm - 9pm, Monday 11 November 2024

▪ 5pm - 9pm, Monday 18 November 2024

▪ 5pm - 9pm, Monday 25 November 2024

▪ 5pm - 9pm, Monday 2 December 2024

Location: Benalla Community Care, 4 Coster Street, Benalla.

Participants will need to attend all four sessions to gain their accreditation.

Thanks to the Live4Life Benalla Partnership consisting of Benalla Health, Tomorrow Today Foundation, Benalla P-12 College, FCJ College Benalla, Benalla Flexible Learning Centre, NESAY, NE Tracks LLEN and Benalla Rural City Council, the course is being offered at a subsidised rate of $25, making it accessible for all interested individuals.

Places are limited, to register your interest please visit https://forms.office.com/r/XBWhKrEX5R by Wednesday 23 October 2024.

For more information, please contact Benalla Rural City Council's Youth Development team on 03 5760 2600.