Evidence-Based Initiative Offers Free Youth Mental Health Training for Schools and Youth-Serving Organizations Starting October 1

As Suicide Prevention Month ends, several free evidence-based, life-changing mental health first aid trainings will be offered by UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Social Work Behavior Health Springboard

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Suicide Prevention Awareness Month comes to a close, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work, Behavioral Health Springboard (BHS) is offering up to 10 free public Youth Mental Health First Aid virtual trainings per month for employees at NC schools and youth-serving organizations beginning October 1. This effort comes as administrators close out the 2024 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month with a call to action to “Start the Conversation” and change the narrative on suicide.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) are evidence-based, international curricula developed by the National Council and implemented by the Behavioral Health Springboard at the UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Social Work. Combined, the curriculums create a network of support within schools and communities, training adults to be trusted resources and empowering teens to recognize signs of substance use and mental health challenges.

A recent study in the Journal of Affective Disorders showed that school-based suicide preventative programs may have the greatest chance at impacting the current statistic that suicide is the second-leading cause of death in teens age 15-19. The teen Mental Health First Aid curriculum additionally found that teens are most likely to talk to teens when experiencing challenges or changes in their lives. These free trainings are the first step to incorporating potentially life-saving initiatives into schools and community organizations. Registration is open now.

BHS is also encouraging parents, administrators, teachers and students to show their support for increased mental health support in schools. Current funding for the initiative is set to expire June 2025.

About Behavioral Health Springboard (BHS): BHS is a department at UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Social Work that links current research to training programs across North Carolina.

Notes and links for editor:

Study on school based initiatives: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032721011484?via%3Dihub

Suicide as a leading cause of death in teens: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8976221/

Behavioral Health Springboard: https://bhs.unc.edu/

More about Mental Health First Aid: https://www.ncymhfa.org

Link to informative tMHFA Video featuring NC teens: https://vimeo.com/1010326189?share=copy