Lancaster General Hospital - a member of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health - in partnership with Community Services Group (CSG) and Pequea Valley School District, will offer a free Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on Friday, Aug. 11. The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Factory Ministries, 3293 E. Lincoln Highway, Paradise.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. This training is designed to teach family members, teachers, school staff members, neighbors, health and human services workers, and others how to help someone ages 12 to 18 who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or crisis.

During this training, participants will learn how to identify common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges; and interact with a child or adolescent in crisis and connect him or her with help. They will also be introduced to expanded content on trauma, substance use, self-care, and the impact of social media and bullying.

The training is part of the Mental Health First Aid Community Collaborative, which is supported by a grant to Lancaster General Hospital from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant supports 100% of the project costs, budgeted for five years at $125,000 per year.

The grant provides mental health training for adults and youths through the Mental Health First Aid training, an evidence-based program that provides skills and resources necessary to recognize and address mental illness, improve pathways to services, and help to reduce the stigma around mental health.

To register for the training, visit https://tinyurl.com/MHFATrainingTheFactory.

For more information on Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health's mental and behavioral health services, visit http://www.lghealth.org/lp/BehavioralHealth/.