Free Training Empowers Students to Help Peers in Need

The Giving Coast

The YMCA of Southwest Florida recently hosted a free Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training session to equip middle and high school students with the skills to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges among their peers. The training, open to students in grades 6–12, focused on early intervention and peer support, critical tools as teen mental health concerns continue to rise. Participants learned how to identify signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use issues, how to approach and support someone in crisis, and how to connect them with appropriate help. The course also included expanded content on trauma, substance use and self-care strategies. To learn more about programs offered by the YMCA of Southwest Florida in Englewood and Venice, visit ymcaswfl.org.

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