You should confidently be able to: – Notice signs of poor mental health in a young person – Approach the young person responsibly – Assist safely in crisis situations and, if needed, seek immediate emergency help – Use your active listening skills throughout your support – React appropriately to signs of abuse, and when necessary report to the relevant authorities – Give the young person information about what they could expect from treatments without recommending or advising – Signpost to relevant professional resources and contacts, depending on your setting and including targeted support if appropriate e.g., financial advice or bullying hotlines – Offer practical support to prepare the young person for mental health support, if appropriate – Talk through other supports available such as self-help strategies Develop your mental health awareness You should continue to improve your knowledge about the mental health landscape for young people in England. Continue to think about what you learnt on the course and how it applies to the real life context you are in as a Youth MHFAider, for example: – Keep in mind mental health risk factors that impact young people, including how discrimination influences the mental health of marginalised groups – Think about a young person’s unique and intersecting identities, remembering every young person is different – Know that young people can and do move around the Mental Health Continuum quadrants and at different rates
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