An innovative ‘mental health first aid’ training programme to support youth will be piloted in the Southern Lakes in the coming months.

The Youth Mental Health First Aid programme gives adults the skills and confidence to provide first aid to a young person experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group has teamed up with national workforce group Te Pou to bring the internationally accredited programme here. 

“Prevention and early intervention are key to keeping our communities well and there’s a real need for more evidence-based, specialised training to support our young people,” Te Hau Toka chair Adell Cox said.

Course participants will spend six months learning to apply ‘first aid’ to young people between 11 and 18, with the course covering common mental health challenges and crisis experienced by young people including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, substance use and psychosis.

Once participants are trained, ten people who work with youth in the Southern Lakes will be selected to pilot the programme and, when they are certified, they will be able to train other adults working with youth.

Adolescence is the peak age of onset for mental health challenges, Adell said. 

Half of all people who will ever have a mental health challenge will experience their first episode before 18 years of age.

“Early onset of mental health challenges is a significant predictor for future episodes but adolescents and young adults are less likely to seek or receive treatment than the wider population,” she said. 

“This means that the adults around them can affect whether or not help is sought, and how quickly. It’s vital that we educate those people and give them the knowledge, tools and support to do that.”

Te Pou chief executive Rae Lamb said she was delighted to see the Mental Health First Aid programme, which is in place in 24 other countries, be adapted for New Zealand.

PHOTO: Supplied