In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, ProBAR is pleased to announce an initiative offering in-house Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training sessions to staff. Led by two certified instructors from ProBAR’s Release Support team, the Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is a critical effort to promote positive mental and emotional well-being among staff and clients alike by training adults to specialize in supporting adolescents who are struggling with their mental health or addiction. 

As of writing, more than 120 people have completed the training, including staff who regularly provide Know Your Rights presentations and legal intake services to unaccompanied children. Jessie Casados, an Unaccompanied Children Legal Services Specialist, shares that MHFA particularly aligns to her work, while “providing a safe and open space for our peers to learn and engage with each other while discussing cultural impacts, resources, and ensuring our own wellbeing.” 

Nancy Garcia, Release Support Director, as well as one of the in-house instructors certified to lead these trainings, believes that as staff learn ways to better support clients experiencing mental health issues, the MHFA can act as a personal resource as well.  Nancy shares, “This mental health initiative highlights awareness and understanding in a space where we can only help clients if we take care of ourselves.” 

With plans to provide this training organization-wide are underway, staff who completed the program have already begun seeing the MHFA training’s impact. Administrative Assistants Angela Atkinson, who has completed the training, states that she’s been, “more observant” since the training. “I was even able to recognize, assist, and support a teenager in crisis at a school function after the training,” Angela states. 

Mental health looks different for everyone, and it is important to be informed about these differences. As Nancy states, “what may affect one person may not affect another. We should maintain an open mind and be ready to assist others in need.”  With Mental Health First Aid training, staff are empowered with knowledge and a plan of action. ProBAR is excited to expand this training and further empower our staff.