The PDCF recognizes that far too many youth in our community are experiencing mental health problems as a result of COVID-19. In response, we gave a special grant to the Youth Action Kommittee (YAK) to offer the mental health first aid course to 11 youth workers at the Lanark Highlands Youth Centre and YAK Youth Services, Perth, and four youth this summer. Participants commented on how much they learned and how much more confident they are talking to youth about mental health concerns.

Mental Health First Aid is an international program proven to be effective. Peer-reviewed studies show that individuals trained in the program

• increase their knowledge of signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental health problems
• decrease the social distance between themselves and someone with a mental health problem
• increase their confidence to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis
• can identify professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental health problem
• show increased mental wellness themselves

This first aid course benefits both the participants and youth who talk to them about their concerns. Hence, the reach may be five times that of the number of participants in the program. For more information, visit https://mhfa.ca/