The Importance of Mental Health First Aid for Youth

Mental health is a global concern for anyone, at any age. However, children and adolescents may struggle to express their emotions due to fear or other factors. Therefore, as a society, we must develop the capacity to support youth.

Of course, anyone who is struggling with their mental health needs to seek help from a qualified mental health practitioner. However, depending on their socio-economic background, youth may not be able to access these services, which makes mental health first aid a vital step in managing emotional crises.  

In this post, we’ll talk more about why mental health for youth matters, what mental health first aid is, and why it’s particularly critical for youth. We’ll also provide more information about how to gain these skills, which are accessible to anyone (you don’t need to be a mental health practitioner to learn them).

Why mental health for youth matters

For many reasons, children and adolescents may struggle to verbalise their emotions or make sense of how they feel. Unfortunately, not many people are trained or have the capacity to notice all of the non-verbal behaviour that might indicate that youth are struggling mentally and emotionally. In these cases, silent cries for help might go unheard. 

Youth may also not know how to reach out or fear the consequences of speaking up about their feelings. In societies facing multiple challenges, such as economic hardship and violence, it can be difficult to find people to trust or open up to. If everyone around you is struggling, who do you turn to for support? 

While mental health practitioners should be the first port of call for anyone who is struggling, realistically and in many circumstances, we need people to assist in stabilising youth in a crisis. These people don’t need to have clinical training. What they need to know is how to safely support people in crisis and assist them in accessing proper mental health care. 

Mental health first aid can provide this kind of support. As with first aid in the case of an accident, mental health care is the first step to managing an emotional crisis, which is especially important given the prevalence of concerning issues like self-harm and suicide. 

What is mental health first aid?

As mentioned, mental health first aid is similar to helping someone with a physical injury. It’s about having trained people available to support others until directed to professional help to resolve an emotional crisis. In disaster situations, for example, there may not be enough trained professionals available to assist, so communities should prioritise training first responders to address both physical and emotional crises. 

Day-to-day, outside disasters or emergencies, recognising signs of distress is critical. Youth and adolescents may show sudden changes in behaviour, such as becoming withdrawn, quiet, or unusually aggressive. Physical issues such as headaches or stomachaches can also express emotional discomfort. Changes in social interaction, sleep patterns, diet, and poor academic performance can also indicate distress in a child or adolescent.

After recognising these signs, which can vary by individual, a trained mental health first-aider will use the 5-step ALGEE model to help stabilise the person. Stabilising a person in crisis is especially critical if they are self-harming or experiencing suicidal ideation. 

The ALGEE model includes the following steps, according to the acronym:

A: Approach

The first step involves approaching the person and assessing whether or not they are in danger of harming themselves or others. In an emergency, the mental health first aider should call for assistance.

L: Listen

The second step involves listening to the person in crisis without judgment or interruption.

G: Give reassurance and information

After listening to the person, it’s essential to reassure them and provide relevant, factual information. 

E: Encourage professional support

After stabilising the person, it’s crucial to encourage them to seek professional help from a qualified mental health practitioner, such as a counsellor.

E: Encourage other support

In addition to encouraging someone to seek professional support, mental health first aiders can also promote other types of support, such as connecting with friends and family.

Does mental health first aid really work?

According to a recent study in South Africa, this type of intervention has many positive results. For example, these interventions led to a reduction in stigma around mental health challenges and more openness around the topic. People trained in mental health first aid also reported that they themselves had found healthier ways to cope with mental health struggles, instead of turning to substance use.

In this context, mental health first aid training was successful due to its integration with the community’s language, values, and culture. To achieve this, peer tutors helped administer the training content. A mobile application made peer referrals more accessible through social prescribing (when friends or peers recommend products and services). 

Overall, this study shows the value of building up first responder resources when it comes to mental health, especially when dealing with issues such as stigma and accessibility. 

Learn about mental health first aid for youth at SACAP Global

If learning more about mental health first aid for youth appeals to you, and you’d like to know the necessary skills, register for SACAP Global’s online workshop, Mental Health First Aid for Youth.

This workshop explores what mental health first aid for youth entails, with a special focus on crisis first aid, while providing clear insights and dispelling myths about concerning issues like suicide and self-harm. 

Our range of additional mental health courses provides further insight, including Enhancing Mental Health. For those who wish to train as mental health practitioners, we also offer more in-depth, fully accredited degree programmes in psychology and counselling.