Why Youth MHFA matters cont.
The Youth MHFA course teaches people how to spot the early signs of poor mental health, including warning signs of common mental health crises. It also teaches people how to respond and provide initial support, as well as how to encourage a person to seek appropriate professional treatment and other sources of support. The Youth MHFA course does not teach people to diagnose mental health conditions or to provide therapy. MHFA is the first response support given to someone experiencing poor mental health before any required professional help is obtained. The wider aims of Youth MHFA are to: – Raise awareness of mental health in the community
– Reduce stigma and discrimination Reasons to train in Youth MHFA
Poor mental health is common and can have long-lasting effects Poor mental health is unfortunately common in young people. This is especially true of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Half of all reported poor mental health is established by the age of 14 years old (1). Recent research by NHS Digital showed that in 2022 18% of children aged 7–16 years old and 22% of young people aged 17–24 years old were experiencing a probable mental health condition (9). Additionally, suicide is the main cause of death in young people under the age of 35 in the UK. Over 200 school-aged young people are lost to suicide every year (2). Poor mental health that presents during childhood and adolescence can have lifelong effects impacting a range of adult outcomes. These include employment, the ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships, and general health and wellbeing.
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