The Maya Gold Foundation will offer teen Mental Health First Aid training for teens in grades 10, 11 and 12 in a series of three weekly sessions this fall. The training program will begin in September and will be held on the campus of SUNY New Paltz. 

Teen Mental Health First Aid, or tMHFA, is an evidence-based training program for students in grades 10-12 that teaches the skills to recognize and aid their peers experiencing mental health and substance use challenges and crises, including how to quickly get the help of an adult. The tMHFA program is designed to help teens help each other navigate the difficult waters of adolescence. 

The feedback from previous cohorts was very positive. One teen shared “the entirety of the program will have an impact on my life moving forward because I myself am in the process of healing and recovery, and this was just another reminder for me that there are things that can help me and that things do get better.”

Another teen added that the highlight of the program for them was “the intriguing discussions and realization [and] clarity I gained from the program, for myself and others. Trauma, mental health challenges [and] crises, and getting help are misunderstood, but I found that it made so much more sense and I realized a lot of new things about my mental health and that of my friends after the program.” 

The Maya Gold Foundation believes this training is an invaluable resource for teens. The training is offered at no cost through the support of generous donors. Teens may register online and must attend all three sessions to be certified. Registration is limited to 20 participants. 

Details for the upcoming program: The training will take place on September 19, 26, and October 3. Each session will run from 6 - 8 p.m. and will take place in room 409 of the Student Union Building (SUB) on the campus of SUNY New Paltz.  

For more information go to https://www.mayagoldfoundation.org/teen-mental-health-first-aid