Mental Health Education

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Parent & Community Education Workshops

17 again • community conversations about teen mental health today with workshops providing tools and resources to support youth

We provide parent and community education workshops on a variety of topics that have been requested by parents. See below for details and how to register.

Youth Substance Use

understanding the difference between self-medicating, addiction, and recreational use SPEAKER PANEL

DATE: Sunday, August 18, 2019

TIME: 3:00PM - 5:15PM

LOCATION: Deckers, 6601 Hollister Avenue (corner of Hollister & Los Carneros)

RSVP: You can show up without registering but it helps us to know how many are coming so if you rsvp on eventbrite in advance, you will be entered into a RAFFLE!

DESCRIPTION: Parents, Educators, Providers, and Teens...

Learn about current substance use trends and understand the negative effects of vaping, JUULing, & binge drinking.
Recognize the difference between recreational use and addiction.
Understand how self-medicating can mask the symptoms of mental illness.
Learn to tell when youth are using and how to engage in the difficult conversations. Find out about local support resources.

**Parents of youth ages 5-25, teens, educators, teens, and youth providers are invited to this FREE workshop.**

**SPANISH TRANSLATION will be available.**

SPEAKER PANEL:

Sam, Student Speaker from UCSB Gauchos in Recovery.

Dustin Sanchez, MD • Medical • Mission Harbor Behavioral Health
Specializes in the treatment of psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. Dr. Sanchez has extensive training and experience in psychotherapy and complex psychopharmacology. He has served in clinical and leadership roles in both academic and community-based settings. He currently provides emergency and consult-liaison psychiatry services at Ventura County Medical Center. He has an outpatient practice in Santa Barbara, providing comprehensive services to adults, adolescents, children, and families. Dr. Sanchez specializes in a wide range of psychiatric problems including mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, trauma, psychosis, and personality disorders, utilizing a holistic approach to achieve optimal health and wellness for his patients.

Michael Mantz, MD• Santa Barbara Integrative Psychiatry
Dr. Mantz has been in private practice for the past 5 years. The focus of his practice is on using a unique blend of progressive psychotherapies, nutrition, supplements, attentional training, and exercise to help his clients break through the issues that appear to be holding them back from reaching what they truly want out of life.

MODERATOR: Rachael Steidl is a Santa Barbara native and the mother of 3 teen daughters. As the founder and former publisher of ParentClick.com, she has spent much of the past fifteen connecting families to resources in our community. Rachael launched the YouthWell Coalition in 2016 to address the gaps in mental health services for youth and to expand the dialogue and increase community collaboration. At the same time, she worked with the Mental Wellness Center to launch the Youth Wellness Connection (YWC) Council and is working with students on "you matter" campaigns on 4 high school campuses through the YWC Clubs that promote self-care, kindness and encourage youth to ask for help when they are struggling. She is committed to increasing awareness through education and reducing stigma so that youth and families can feel safe reaching out for support. Rachael has over 25 years of experience in management, marketing, and strategic planning. Rachael has an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and her early work experience included counseling youth in group homes and co-facilitating addiction groups.

APRIL 7, 2019 - managing stress & finding balance

managing stress & finding balance
increasing resilience in ouryouth through mindfulness& self-care

DATE: Sunday, April 7, 2019

TIME: 3:00PM - 5:15PM

LOCATION: Deckers, 6601 Hollister Avenue (corner of Hollister & Los Carneros)

RSVP: You can show up without registering but it helps us to know how many are coming so if you rsvp on eventbrite in advance, you will be entered into a RAFFLE!

DESCRIPTION: How do we offer guidance & support without rescuing our children from the discomfort that naturally comes with healthy challenges and growth? We will [1] introduce & practice simple strategies for supporting our kids in becoming capable & resilient adults, [2] explore simple practices for parents to use in being more present & understanding, [3] discuss the line that separates normal upset & disappointment from depression & anxiety that require professional intervention.

**Parents of youth ages 5-25, teens, educators, and youth providers are invited to this FREE workshop.**

**SPANISH TRANSLATION will be available.**

SPEAKER: For over thirty years, Dave Mochel has been focused on the foundations of wellbeing, healthy communities, and leadership. After a twenty-year career teaching human development and neuroscience in independent schools, he founded Applied Attention to help individuals, teams, and organizations focus their attention and energy where it will make the greatest positive difference. Using principles drawn from modern scientific research and enduring wisdom, he has had the opportunity to work with leaders, educators, executives, parents, students, and athletes all over the world. He draws upon his degrees in biology from Williams College, a Master’s in Humanistic and Multicultural Education from SUNY New Paltz, and a clinical internship in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. The principles and practices he teaches have been distilled and synthesized from thousands of years of enduring wisdom, thousands of scientific studies, and thousands of conversations with colleagues, students, friends, and clients. Learn more about Dave >

MODERATOR: Rachael Steidl is a Santa Barbara native and the mother of 3 teen daughters. As the founder and former publisher of ParentClick.com, she has spent much of the past fifteen connecting families to resources in our community. Rachael launched the YouthWell Coalition in 2016 to address the gaps in mental health services for youth and to expand the dialogue and increase community collaboration. At the same time, she worked with the Mental Wellness Center to launch the Youth Wellness Connection (YWC) Council and is working with students on "you matter" campaigns on 4 high school campuses through the YWC Clubs that promote self-care, kindness, and encourage youth to ask for help when they are struggling. She is committed to increasing awareness through education and reducing stigma so that youth and families can feel safe reaching out for support. Rachael has over 25 years of experience in management, marketing, and strategic planning. Rachael has an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and her early work experience included counseling youth in group homes and co-facilitating addiction groups.

JAN 27, 2019 - navigating the digital & gaming age with our youth

navigating the digital & gaming age with our youth

DATE: Sunday, January 27, 2019

TIME: 3:00PM - 5:15PM

LOCATION: Deckers, 6601 Hollister Avenue (corner of Hollister & Los Carneros)

RSVP: You can show up without registering but it helps us to know how many are coming so if you rsvp on eventbrite in advance, you will be entered into a RAFFLE!

DESCRIPTION: Workshop will feature speakers and breakout groups where you will learn strategies on how to support youth responsibly with their devices. Understand the impact of screens on brain development. Learn to identify signs of cell phone and gaming addiction. Learn how to start the conversations with your child and set healthy limits around devices.

SPEAKERS:

Alia Aizenstat, M.A., is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and Professional Clinical Counselor Associate who works both in private practice and as a Lead Group Facilitator at AHA!, a non-profit organization educating teens on emotional intelligence and social justice. Alia holds a master's degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology. She is the published author of Psychotherapy in the Digital Age: The Integration of Online Identities in the Therapeutic Process, and the founder of the Virtual Identities Integration Treatment model. She is an international lecturer and has been working to implement psychoeducational segments on digital responsibility into schools and therapeutic treatment centers. Alia has trained in EMDR trauma therapy levels one and two with an attachment focus through the Parnell Institute, and in Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) with one of the program's founders, Steven Hayes.

Christy Stillwell, M.A., is the founder and executive director of What is LOVE, an innovative dating violence prevention program dedicated to helping teens identify abusive love and build healthy relationships skills. Christy is an educator and youth activist with more than twenty years of program development, management, and independent evaluation. She conducts workshops, staff trainings and speaks in schools, juvenile detention facilities, universities, and youth-serving organizations. She is known for her creativity, innovation, and a high level of integrity while addressing complex vital issues. She is dedicated to creating a community of socially and emotionally intelligent youth, committed to success, building empathy, taking responsibility, repairing harm, and crafting successful futures.

JAN 31, 2019 - youth mental health first aid INSTRUCTOR training

INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

DATE: January 31 - February 2, 2019 [3 days]
TIME: 9:00AM-5:00pm
LOCATION: Mental Wellness Center, 617 Garden St. Santa Barbara, CA
SPACES AVAILABLE: 15
COST: $1,450
- 5-day training for new instructor
- Breakfast and lunch
- Training materials
CONTACT: education@youthwell.org or Jeannie at 805.884.8440

**To become certified, participants must be present for entire training, deliver the presentation and pass a written exam.

What instructors do...

Instructors are on the frontlines of the program and train people in their communities in Mental Health First Aid. Certified instructors are required to teach the course at least three times per year. Instructors teach from a national curriculum, tailor discussions to their participants and compile a list of local resources for help.

Instructor certification results from a 5-day training that presents the Mental Health First Aid 8-hour course and provides in-depth instruction on facilitating the course. The training includes a written exam and evaluates each candidate’s ability to present the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course to a variety of audiences. Become certified to teach the adult or youth curriculum, or both. Once certified, instructors must teach the course at least three times per year to maintain their certification.

Only certified Instructors can teach the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course to the public. Instructors may organize courses in their communities and may charge a fee. They must provide Mental Health First Aid USA participant manuals to all those who attend the course.

INSTRUCTOR ROLE, LEARN MORE >>

Why become an instructor?

Certified Instructors may teach 8-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid course to any audiences in their community including other staff members in their organization, business, or school.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor Certification trainings are approved for 32
continuing education credits for NASW. Training participants know must bring their license number to the training if they will be requesting CEs. Participants must sign-in and sign-out on the CE sign in sheet every day in order to receive the CEs. The CE requests will be processed by the National Council within 30-60 days following the training, and participants will receive their CE certificates via email.

Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor training teaches you how to:

Teach Youth Mental Health First Aid course, including the 5-step action plan, evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies, and prevalence data. Present program with fidelity to the tested, core model. Apply the program to a range of adult learning styles. Tailor presentations to diverse audiences and learning environments.

NOTE: There are 2 Course types offered nationally. If you want to teach both Youth & Adult courses, you must first certify as an Instructor through a new Instructor training (for 1 course), and then go through a 2.5-day training for the other course you wish to teach. Instructors are required to teach the course at least 3 times per year to maintain their certification.

SEPT 20, 2018 - provider workshop

provider workshop

DATE: Sept 20, 2018

TIME: 2:30PM - 5:30PM

LOCATION: Mental Wellness Center

GOALS
IT'S ABOUT THE YOUTH & HELPING THEM ACCESS SERVICES MORE EASILY

Create an opportunity for staff from different organizations to connect and better understand the other resources that exist on each campus so they can better work together to leverage resources both on and off campus.
Convene the school Deans of Student Engagement & the FSA Therapists making referrals and connect them with the organizations that will be working on secondary school campuses for 2018-2019 so that they have a better understanding of services when they are making referrals.
Enhance your facilitator skills through team building activities and learn interactive techniques for engaging students on campus and increase opportunities to connect with students by speaking at their club meetings, classes, etc. (different than one on one counseling or support groups)
[TBD] Overview of mental health referral process for students AND the school Crisis Response Protocol... Explain the process after a crisis/trauma... when Compassion Centers are convened on campus and Psychological First Aid response is utilized.
[TBD] Overview from SBUSD on how the Signs of Suicide (SOS) will be implemented on campuses.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

SCHOOLS...

Dean of Student Engagement on each secondary (7-12) school campus
Up to 1 Counselor from each secondary school campus

ORGANIZATIONS...

Organizations with staff working with youth on secondary school campuses...
FSA (campus therapists)
Mental Wellness Center (Mental Health Matters instructors, YWC Facilitators, Family Advocate)
CADA (YSS or equivalent and staff that lead FNL or ClubLive on campus)
SAFTY (staff that respond to SB South County calls)
Just Communities (staff that lead trainings and groups on campus or provide class curriculum)
Hospice (staff that lead support groups and respond to crisis on campus)
What Is Love
AHA! (staff that lead PeaceBuilders on campus or provide class curriculum)
Pacific Pride (staff provide class curriculum or provide any supports on campus)
CALM (campus therapists on K-6 campus)
COUNSELING Centers (CCEC, etc)
FAITH BASED COMMUNITY with large youth outreach groups (ie: Ocean Hills, Calvary, SB Community, etc)

AUG 20, 2018 - a community conversation about teen mental health today

a community conversation about
teen mental health today

DATE: Monday, Aug 20, 2018

TIME: 5:00PM

LOCATION: Impact Hub, 1117 State St.

Part one of two mental wellness nights providing parents and our community with tools and resources to support youth.

In honor of back to school season, discover what it is like to be in high school today, and let’s come together as a community to learn more about an issue that affects EVERYONE.

This interactive night will feature a panel of experienced community professionals in the mental health sector. You will leave this event with tangible tools on how to take care of yourself, how to talk to someone who is struggling, what relevant warning signs to look out for, and what resources are offered in Santa Barbara.

Panel includes: Michael Cruse, Taryn Holvick, Rachael Steidl, Patrick Lyra Lanier, Ali Cortes, Christina Lombard

Facilitators include: Michael Cruse, Taryn Holvick, Rachael Steidl, Patrick Lyra Lanier, Ali Cortes, Christina Lombard, Taryn Holvick, Melissa Axel, Mariela Marin, Isis Castaneda, Max Golding, Michele Drum, Dr Kulberg

SIGN-UP FOR A YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING >>

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Thank you!

Through a SAMHSA grant, Family Service Agency (FSA), Mental Wellness Center (MWC), and the YouthWell Coalition are able to provide more community education around mental health as a way to support youth in our community.