Get Certified Today

Help Youth. Save Lives. Start Today.
Adolescents face unique emotional and mental health challenges, particularly those navigating rare diseases and complex medical conditions. You can make a meaningful difference in their lives. Through Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) certification, you’ll gain the skills to recognize warning signs, respond with confidence, and connect young people with appropriate support and resources.
Why Get Certified?
Youth Mental Health First Aid is more than a training, it’s a movement toward changing how we approach mental health. Certification empowers you to:
- Increase awareness and empathy for youth with rare and chronic illnesses
- Build advocacy and communication skills to support families and communities
- Reduce stigma and foster a culture of mental wellness
- Learn practical strategies to intervene in both crisis and non-crisis situations
- Create safe spaces where adolescents feel seen, heard, and supported
- Strengthen collaboration across schools, healthcare, and community settings
What You’ll Learn

This course equips you with the ALGEE Action Plan, practical steps to support youth ages 12–18 who may be experiencing:
- Anxiety and depression
- Trauma and crisis response
- Eating disorders, ADHD, and substance use
- Psychosis and disruptive behaviors
You’ll practice how to:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Provide reassurance and information
- Encourage professional help
- Promote self-help and peer support strategies
Course Options & Structure
Choose the format that works best for you:
- Virtual: 2-hour online module + 5.5-hour live Zoom session + 30 mins post-work
- Blended In-Person: 2-hour online module + 5-hour in-person session + 30 mins post-work
Certification is valid for 3 years and includes 6 CEUs.
Who Should Take This Course?
YMHFA is designed for:
- Parents and caregivers
- Educators and school staff
- Social workers and healthcare providers
- Faith leaders and youth mentors
- Community advocates
- No prerequisites required.
Quick Facts
- Course value: $170 per person
- Discounts & group rates available
- Scholarship support may be available as funding allows
- Certification by Mental Health First Aid USA & National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Earn 6 CEUs
Powered by Partnership
This course is developed by Mental Health First Aid USA in collaboration with:
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Missouri Department of Mental Health
- Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development
Learn more at www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org.
