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teen Mental Health First Aid

Build a powerful community of teens ages 15–18 by teaching them how to support a friend or peer with the evidence-based teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) course.

Adolescence is a time of critical change and development, and the time when mental health challenges may first emerge. Those challenges may be the cause for falling grades, problems with close relationships and substance use. Take comfort knowing that your students will be prepared to provide support for their peers as well as better cope with mental health challenges themselves — and get assistance from a trusted adult.

 

For more info, view the tMHFA one-pager.

 

Bring tMHFA to teens in your community — learn more and begin your application.

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To find a course or Instructor near you, enter your location below.

tMHFA was brought to the United States by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in partnership with Born This Way Foundation.

Why Mental Health Matters for Teens

1 in 5
teens in the United States will experience a mental health challenge by the time they are 18.
3
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among youth ages 15–19.
64%
of teens in the United States who experience mental health challenges don’t seek help.

How teen Mental Health First Aid Can Help

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Course content addresses common mental health challenges in young people.
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Understanding reduces stigma.
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Teens have an Action Plan to help friends and peers who may be facing a mental health challenge or crisis, such as suicide.
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Youth learn how and when to involve a parent, guardian or other responsible and trusted adult.

Ways to Teach and Learn

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In-Person

Lessons are conducted in person in six 45-minute sessions or three 90-minute sessions.

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Blended

Six lessons consist of a self-paced online lesson followed by live, Instructor-led sessions held in person or over video conference.

 

Video: Let's Get Real
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Parental Involvement

tMHFA sites receive resources to inform parents and guardians about the program and provide ways for them to reach out to someone at the school or organization with any questions or concerns. All parents and guardians have the opportunity to opt their child out of taking the tMHFA course.

 

Critically, tMHFA encourages teens to reach out to parent, guardian or other trusted adult. For this reason, sites are encouraged to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training — our course for adults who work or live with youth — before the tMHFA course begins or concurrently with the tMHFA course to create opportunities for increased trust and shared understanding between teens and their parents/guardians.

Learn More

To read more about how Mental Health First Aid is helping critical populations,
check out our case studies , or read our blog and filter by population type.

Latest News & Updates

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Back to School Doesn’t Have to Mean Back to Stigma

It was late one weekday. I had just gotten up from one of my long naps that characterized countless vain attempts to sleep away depressive thoughts. I got out of bed and took several steps to the door. Instantly, thoughts flooded my mind and the image of that kid at school who didn’t return my messages, who I truly believed hated my guts, flashed across […]...

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