Mental Health Awareness for Educators In-Service

Mental Health Awareness for Educators

Sessions Taught by an Educator for Educators

Mental Health First Aid Certification – Focus on Youth

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Certification good for three years by National Council for Behavioral Health.

Mental Health First Aid Certification – Focus on Adults

The adult Mental Health First Aid course is appropriate for anyone 18 years and older who wants to learn how to help a person who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis or problem. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions.

Certification good for three years by National Council for Behavioral Health.

Transforming Loss – A Healing Process
When Grief Comes to School

One out of every 20 children aged fifteen and younger will suffer the loss of one or both parents. One in 5 children will experience the death of someone close to them by age 18. One in every 1,500 secondary school students dies each year. Teachers are in a unique position to assist grieving children; however, preparation to meet this need is not typically provided in preservice or inservice training. Yet, teachers can play a vital role in helping children understand and manage the pain of grief. This session focuses on how to respond when students or peers display Short Term Energy Relieving Behaviors. Strategies will be given to help teachers support grieving children in their classrooms.

Taught by a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist

Mental Illness Prevention: Fostering a Whole-Community Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-Being 4-6 Hours

This is a multi-session inservice and workshop for educators to learn methods which promote “healthy” mental health for the prevention of mental illness. Topics are geared toward students and faculty to include:

Learning the triggers of life impacts on mental health
Recognizing the unhealthy responses to life impacts
Identifying local resources to aid in recovery

Attendees will learn about the five areas that impact our mental health. Recognizing physical and mental responses displayed will aid in associating the response with emotions. A resiliency assessment will be administered. The results will be used for identifying the local resources needed to aid in recovery. The take away will be an understanding of how to foster a whole-community approach to emotional and mental well-being.

Mental Health First Aid [Intervention] Certification – 8 Hours

Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour training to teach participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis . The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps trainees identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

This is a great resource for your school crisis team.

Certification is awarded through Mental Health First Aid USA. Mental Health First Aid USA is operated by the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Student Wellness: Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness in the Classroom – 2 Hours

In today’s society our students are challenged with immense societal issues. Poverty and various levels of trauma including child neglect, abuse, domestic violence, parental incarceration or abandonment, a family member’s serious mental illness or substance abuse problem, highly conflicted divorce situations, serious accidents, disasters, war, or acts of terrorism are among the common. Sessions will educate and shed light on the brutal facts that educators must acknowledge, and the associated stigmas. A strength-based model of learning will be presented that seeks to understand and enhance the lives of diverse students. Solutions include a shift of focus from the “At Risk” to the “At Resilience” in order to create environments that have a positive impact on the lives of more children.

This presentation can be adjusted to accommodate length of time as needed.

Employee Wellness: Unleashing the Potential of Resilience – 1 Hour

Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions. The demands placed upon the teacher, both academic and emotional, can also make it one of the most stressful. This session will present ways to help teachers reduce stress and enliven their teaching by promoting an increased understanding of the importance of emotional balance and identifying ways to introduce mindful awareness practices into their personal lives as a means of enhancing their professional performance. Tested examples of combating burn out will be presented as well as ways to leverage student interests while making relevant connections to work being done in the classroom.

Community Connection: The Power of Partnership and Performance – 1 Hour

In a constantly changing world, the educational challenge is one where we empower our youth to commit to learning while becoming resourceful and resilient in the face of adversity.

Determining a student’s inner and outward strengths, learning where their skills and interests lie, and how that translates to future education, employment, and careers can be daunting.

This session will provide ways that principals can assist educators in connecting the dots between learning and life. It will give examples of a cross curriculum, community connection that builds on unifying the strengths of the school, students, and families through the power of partnership and performance.

Pathway to Mental Health Resilience – 1.5 Hours

Education is one of the most rewarding professions, yet demands placed upon the educator, both academic and emotional, make it one of the most stressful occupations. A 2014 Teacher Support Network poll shows that 91 percent of teachers experience job-related mental health symptoms.

This session will enhance principals’ knowledge and skills to effectively address the emotional, physical, and mental health of staff. Attendees will learn to identify mental health needs and understand the effects on the person and the professional. They will learn the elements that build mental health resilience. Through participation, attendees will assess the need of mental health resilience for a specific educational community. An analysis of the assessment will be presented; needs will be considered applying knowledge learned. Participants will develop a Pathway to Mental Health Resilience to meet the identified needs.

Participants will assist one another and safety and support will be fostered.

Psychological First Aid and the Connection to The Journey of “The Call” – 1 Hour

Understanding of the psychological triage is discussed in relation to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Steps to break through the barriers of trauma are presented. Perception is explained and the power of the educator to change perception is realized. Once the basic needs of the student are met and the student is available to learn, the educator can advance in the journey of their calling of educating and building resilient students.

Trainer the Trainer – 90 Minutes

Gain a practical, how-to overview of the Mastering Mental Health Curriculum. During this session the four learning components: Preparation, Presentation, Practice, and Evaluation will be explored. Educators will gain a strong foundation in approaches in order to enable children to have a voice, to learn to identify their emotions, and to build resiliency in being overcomers.