“If I sprain my ankles, chances are you’ll know what to do. If I have a panic attack, chances are you won’t.”

This is a training program for Adults Who Interact with Youth. While the course has a youth based focus, ages 12-24, the skills that are taught are the same as the basic course for people that work with adults and in addition provides two additional modules that the basic doesn’t cover; Eating disorders and deliberate self-injury.

“Participants who take this course are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health with their family, friends, communities, and workplaces.”

Training goes through Red Deer and is free for adults.  There are also several Chinook’s Edge School Division staff trained to facilitate the course.  Contact Lorrie Morris, Secretary for Student Services for information.

http://mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/en

http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/en/course-info/courses

https://informalberta.ca/public/service/serviceProfileStyled.do?serviceQueryId=1058675

Training required – will need a staff facilitator to be trained in the program. Cost involved (see below).

“The HEROES program was founded in memory of Jennifer Janz — bright, gifted and talented 16-year old young woman, who through a series of wrong choices ended up losing her life on the streets of Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1991. This very personal and painful experience became a catalyst for helping hundreds of thousands of youth avoid this same path, by empowering young people, families and communities, to develop the feelings, thoughts and actions of a hero; those who use their gifts & abilities to make a positive change in themselves and others.

Impact Society programs focus on celebrating every individual’s existing strengths, not their weaknesses or problems. With this strengths-based focus, we offer youth and their support networks the framework and vocabulary to have the important conversations and develop a key understanding that will create a safe, supportive environment.”