Mental Health First Aid & QPR Training
Join the movement in Santa Barbara County to strengthen our community because we can all be more aware and informed.
calendar of trainings
Training empowers teens, parents, educators, first responders, and other caring adults with tools and strategies to create a safe and caring community. The #1 protective factor in youth mental health is a trusted adult. You can be that trusted adult who is trained with skills and knowledge about what to do and what to say. Trainings are hosted by FSA and YouthWell. (Provided in-person or virtually). CONTACT MHTraining@YouthWell.org for more information or fill out our INQUIRY FORM.
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Youth Mental Health First Aid is a FREE 6.5-hour certification course that teaches adults who work or live with youth between the ages of 12-18 how to help someone who may be developing a mental health challenge or coping with a worsening mental health challenge or substance abuse disorder. Participants learn how to recognize, understand, and respond appropriately to signs of mental health challenges of varying intensity, as well as substance use disorders. (3 year certification)
QPR [Question, Persuade, and Refer ] is a FREE 2-hour suicide prevention training for participants to learn about community resources in Santa Barbara County and be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide - and question, persuade, and refer people to services who are at risk. (2 year certification)
INQUIRE ABOUT A TRAINING or use the links below to register.
for parents & adults (18+) who work or live with youth between ages of 12-18
UPCOMING TRAININGS
DATE: FRI, MAY 3 - 11:30am-1:30pm
LOCATION: Fusion Academy
DATE: TUES, MAY 21 - 5:30-7:30pm
LOCATION: Zoom
DATE: SAT, JUNE 15 - 9 -11am
LOCATION: Zoom
DATE: WED, AUG 21 - 5:30-7:30pm
LOCATION: Zoom
DATE: MON, SEPT 16 - 11:30 am-1:30pm
LOCATION: YouthWell Office
PAST TRAININGS
DATE: APR 16
LOCATION: SBMS
DATE: APR 9
LOCATION: Zoom SBCEO
DATE/TIME: APR 3
LOCATION: Zoom
DATE: JAN 12
LOCATION: One Community Action
DATE: MAR 6
LOCATION: Allan Hancock College SM
DATE: OCT 26 - CBB
LOCATION: 1000 San Antonio Creek Rd
DATE: AUG 21 - AHC
LOCATION: Allan Hancock College SM
for adults who work or live with youth between the ages of 12-18
UPCOMING TRAININGS
DATE: SAT, APR 27 - 8:30am-2pm
LOCATION: ZOOM [blended]
REGISTRATION CLOSES: TH APR 18
DATE: FRI, JUNE 14 - 8:30am-2pm
LOCATION: ZOOM [blended]
REGISTRATION CLOSES: TH JUNE 6
DATE: FRI, OCT 11 - 8:30am-3:30pm
(includes 30 min lunch break)
LOCATION: SBCEO
SPANISH...
DATE: MAY 25 - 9am-4pm
LOCATION: One Community Action, Santa Maria
REGISTRATION CLOSES: TH MAY 16
PAST TRAININGS
DATE: MAR 4 - 9 am - 4 pm
LOCATION: AHA Santa Barbara
DATE: MAR 1 - 8:30 am - 3 pm
LOCATION: YouthWell Office
DATE: FEB 24
LOCATION: SMJUHSD
DATE: JAN 26 - BHI
LOCATION: YouthWell Office
DATE: JAN 8
LOCATION: Guadalupe School District
DATE: DEC 20
LOCATION: One Community Action
teaches teens in grades 10-12 or ages 15-18 how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers.
Inquire if you are interested in it for your class or group of teens.
DATE: APR 15, 22, 29
LOCATION: SYV People Helping People
DATE: SUMMER COMMUNITY TRAINING with YAB & other youth leadership groups
LOCATION: TBD
PAST TRAININGS
DATE: JAN
LOCATION: San Marcos High School, Health Careers Academy
DATE: NOV
LOCATION: Midland Charter School
DATE: NOV
LOCATION: Santa Barbara High School Health Class
DATE: OCT
LOCATION: Youth Advisory Board
mental health first aid
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid [MHFA] helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis.
YOUTH Mental Health First Aid [Y-MHFA]is a comprehensive training designed to equip educators, family members, and caregivers (18 years or older) with the skills and knowledge to identify, understand, and respond to the signs or risk factors of youth mental illness and substance use disorders. The 6.5 hour training can be done via Zoom or in-person. Upon completion, you will be certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid.
TEEN Mental Health First Aid [tMHFA] teaches high school students (10th-12th grade) about common mental health challenges and what they can do to support their own mental health and help a friend who is struggling. It’s equipping young people with the knowledge and skills they need to foster their own wellness and to support each other.
ADULT Mental Health First Aid is for 18 years and older. Hosted by the Mental Wellness Center >
REGISTER: Youth Mental Health First Aid is FREE and is offered monthly throughout Santa Barbara County. SIGN UP > Let us know if you would like to coordinate a private class for 20 people to train in your organization, church, or group. The course is available in English and Spanish. CONTACT MHTraining@YouthWell.org
View YouthWell Community Calendar or BeTheDifferenceSB.org for upcoming classes.
QPR training
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. QPR is a suicide prevention training for participants to be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide and question, persuade, and refer people at risk for suicide for help. QPR can be learned in as little as one hour and you will receive a certificate that is active for 2 years.
Gatekeepers trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.
Gatekeepers can be anyone, but include parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, office supervisors, squad leaders, foremen, police officers, advisors, caseworkers, firefighters, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.
As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:
- Recognize the warning signs of suicide
- Know how to offer hope
- Know how to get help and save a life
REGISTER: QPR is FREE and is offered monthly throughout Santa Barbara County. SIGN UP > Let us know if you would like to coordinate a private class for 20 people to train in your organization, church, or group. The course is available in English and Spanish. CONTACT MHTraining@YouthWell.org
View YouthWell Community Calendar or BeTheDifferenceSB.org for upcoming classes.
Thank you!
Through a SAMHSA grant, Family Service Agency (FSA) and YouthWell are able to provide more community education around mental health as a way to support youth in our community.