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Two Virginia high schools prepare for Teen Mental Health First Aid
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
mental health weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7583
pISSN - 1058-1103
DOI - 10.1002/mhw.31854
Subject(s) - mental health , psychology , addiction , medical education , psychiatry , medicine
Governor Ralph Northam announced April 2 that the National Council on Behavioral Health and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation have selected two Virginia high schools to take part in the Teen Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) pilot program. Freedom High School in Chantilly and Charlottesville High School will be among eight schools in the country to pilot Teen MHFA this spring, according to a press release from Gov. Northam's office. Teen MHFA is an in‐person training designed for high school students to learn about mental illnesses and addictions and help them identify and respond to friends who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem. Similar to how people learn CPR, students learn a five‐step action plan to help their friends who may be facing a mental health problem or crisis, such as suicide. The program aims to teach teens to recognize when a friend is showing signs of a mental health issue or crisis, such as suicidal thoughts, and trains them on how to respond and get help.