After a year of stress and isolation due to the pandemic, young people are experiencing more symptoms of mental health crises, the 74 reports. And because of this, demand is increasing for training around Mental Health First Aid.
CIS of Chicago’s COO and Clinical Director, Dr. Judith Allen, is a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. She is working to equip adults in the school building, as well as parents, with the tools needed to recognize and respond to a student in crisis. This spring, Dr. Allen trained 500 adults in Mental Health First Aid, and she’s looking to triple the number of instructors this fall to meet demand.
In the course, Dr. Allen emphasizes that adults are not trained to save the day by taking the course, but rather, they walk away with the tools to recognize warning signs in young people and respond accordingly. These skills will be invaluable for all adults to have, especially as students return to the classroom this fall.
