Don’t Miss This Webinar on Mental Health

TITLE: Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis in Schools and Afterschool Programs: Notice. Talk. Act.

TRAINING DESCRIPTION: Most indicators show that youth mental health has worsened over the past decade, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. But what can we do in our schools and afterschool programs to build the skills of youth workers and teachers to recognize early warning signs of declining mental health, speak with youth and their families and to refer youth, as needed, to mental health resources?

Notice. Talk. Act.® at School is a training designed and delivered by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation in partnership with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). This training equips all adults who work in your school—afterschool staff and school personnel: school administrators, coaches, custodial staff, food service staff, mental health staff, nurses, and teachers—with the right tools to make a difference in the mental health of your youth.

By the end of the training, participants will develop skills to:

Notice

• Identify early behavioral, emotional, and physical signs that may indicate emerging mental health concerns in students.
• Observe changes in student behavior, attendance, or academic performance that could signal a need for intervention.

Talk

• Learn to use active listening, motivational interviewing techniques and empathetic communication to initiate students in open discussions.
• Practice strategies for engaging in safe, supportive conversations with students about their mental health and emotional well-being through role-playing.

Act

• Review of your school or district’s referral pathway and processes
• Gain knowledge of school and community-based resources available for students in need of mental health support.
• Learn to assess student needs, make timely and appropriate referrals, and connect students and their families to mental health services.