Real Talk for Parents: Teen Mental Health First Aid

Join us for Westview’s Real Talk series for Parents, Caregivers, and Staff, where we invite experts to discuss important wellness topics throughout the year. Our first Real Talk session of the year will focus on equipping adults with the knowledge to understand and address common mental health challenges faced by our teens and then help our teens support their peers as well. We'll introduce the new Teen Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course recently launched at Westview, designed to help teens identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance use issues in their peers, directing them to appropriate resources. Additionally, we'll share insights into the Youth MHFA program, which empowers adults to recognize and support teens during mental health challenges and crises.

Recent studies indicate that teens often turn to peers rather than adults for emotional support. This course empowers students to distinguish between mental health challenges and crises and explore various support options. As parents, gaining these insights can enhance our ability to support our teens' education and provide crucial guidance during difficult times.

Erin Langs, a certified instructor for Teen and Youth MHFA, will lead the session. She has successfully trained 25 Westview students in Teen MHFA, some of whom will join the presentation to share their experiences and the benefits of this certification. Think of these trainings as CPR/First Aid, but for mental health.  

This is an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow community members and learn how to better support our Westiew students.  Refreshments provided.