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Livermore High School students are now better equipped to recognize when friends or classmates are struggling with a mental health challenge or crisis, after more than half of the school’s sophomore class recently completed training for Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA).
The school was one of three in the state chosen to undergo pilot program training in September; some students received their certification on Halloween, and more than 460 LHS students are expected to be tMHFA-certified by early 2020. LHS is also participating in a study by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health as part of the pilot.
tMHFA is a training program from Australia that was adapted by the National Council for Behavioral Health to teach teenagers how to identify and take action when their friends are exhibiting symptoms of mental illness or substance abuse issues.
The program is similar to CPR and includes a five-step action plan that students can use to help their classmates get help.
“Now more than ever, mental health education is essential for our students’ well-being and success. It’s hard for students to learn when they are suffering in silence,” Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District Superintendent Kelly Bowers said in a statement.
About one in five youth live with a mental health condition but less than half of them will receive treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Half of those living with mental illness usually experience onset by the age of 14; that number hits 75% by the age of 24. Without a diagnosis or help, untreated mental illness can impact a student’s learning, growth and development.
High school students trained in tMHFA show increased understanding of mental health, feel more confident about helping their peers, and personally report experiencing less psychological stress, according to research. Mental health is already familiar to LHS tenth graders; the topic is discussed in Freshman in Transition (FIT) and mandatory health classes.
“The exposure to mental health topics prior to 10th grade provides a great foundation for tMHFA to build on,” said school psychologist Deborah Rogers, who also teaches tMHFA. “Students are able to take their understanding to a deeper level and feel empowered knowing they are learning skills to help their friends.”
LHS staff have already reported an immediate effect on students that underwent training.
“Students have responded well to the trainings,” said school counselor and tMHFA instructor Zachary Radecke. “I have been impressed by the amount of great questions students are asking.”
Training sessions wrapped up with an “exit ticket,” allowing students to privately seek follow-up with a mental health expert. In several situations, students received an intervention for either themselves or a friend they were concerned about.
“We were able to address the needs of these students in real time because of the trust built between the tMHFA instructors and students through this process,” said Dr. Liisa Hanninen-Danner, the district’s tMHFA program coordinator.
Two “Federal Mental Health Awareness Training” grants have also enabled LVJUSD to expand its support for students by training staff and parents in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), which teaches adults to recognize symptoms of a mental health condition in youth 12-18, and help them receive treatment. YMHFA classes are offered in English and Spanish.
For more information about the Teen Mental Health First Aid pilot program, visit www.livermoreschools.org/mentalhealth.