Classes Available in Stratford!
From National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Open to Stratford high schoolers, aged 15 – 18
Birdseye Municipal Complex, 468 Birdseye Street
Free, thanks to the generous support of the Stratford Rotary Club
Congratulations to the recent graduates of the first two cohorts this summer!
Space is available for the next two:
Cohort 3:
Morning sessions from 10:00 to 11:30 A.M.; July 22, July 24, July 26
Cohort 4:
Afternoon sessions from 3:00 to 4:30 P.M.; August 19, August 21, August 23
Each session is 90 minutes long, and attendance at all three is essential for certification. Makeup classes will be available, but teens should plan to attend all three sessions of the class they register for.
Teen Mental Health First Aid is aimed at equipping teens with the skills to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, substance misuse, and crises among peers and family. This enables them to support their friends in meaningful ways, and to better understand what challenges they themselves may be dealing with.
The course covers:
- how to open the conversation about mental health and substance use challenges
- common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges
- the impact of school violence and bullying on mental wellbeing
- how to seek the help of a responsible and trusted adult
Adolescence is an often difficult time of change and development. Mental health challenges may first emerge and can be the cause for falling grades, problems with close relationships, and substance use. It’s easy to see the need for this program with statistics like these:
- One in five teens in the United States will experience a mental health challenge by the time they are 18
- 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
The program presents a unique opportunity for our teens to have a positive impact in our community by empowering them with the knowledge to support each other, and promote mental well-being for all.
Teen Mental Health First Aid was brought to the United States by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with Born This Way Foundation, which was co-founded by Lady Gaga.
For more details and to register, visit: stratford.gov/TMHFA or contact Chelsea at [email protected]
Stratford teen Mental Health First Aid is a collaboration of the Stratford Partnership for Youth and Families, Community Services, and the Stratford Rotary Club.
