CASTERTON Memorial Hospital and Glenelg Live4Life are joining forces to bring Youth Mental Health Training to Casterton in March.

“Live4Life Glenelg provides 14-hour, fully-accredited Youth Mental Health First Aid training, suitable for parents, grandparents and adults working, living or supporting adolescents in sports clubs, schools, workplaces and our community,” the hospital’s community development officer, Lucinda Jenkins said.

“Delivered by local accredited trainers, Mental Health First Aid is the help provided to someone who is developing a mental health problem, has a worsening, existing mental health problem or is in a mental health crisis.

“The first aid is given until appropriate professional help is received, or the crisis resolves.”

Mental Health First Aid course participants learn about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people and where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness.

It also demonstrates what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective and how to provide first aid in a crisis.

Casterton Secondary College is one of the five secondary schools within the Glenelg Shire Council that supports the Live4Live initiative, with a number of college students joining the program as ambassadors, each year.

Being a Live4Life community, Glenelg Shire is able to offer the Mental Health First Aid training for just $35.75 per head – a cost normally reaching up to $420 per person, in other areas.

“We strongly encourage community members to further support our youth and the broader Casterton community and take up this great opportunity provided by Glenelg Shire and Live4Life,” Ms Jenkins said.

“Anyone interested can attend training on Monday 6, 20 and 29 March and 3 April, 2023, from 6pm until 9.30pm, at the hospital; no previous training or experience is needed.”

For more information, contact Ms Jenkins at the hospital on 5554 2523, or book your place online at www.youth-mhfa-live4life-casterton-evening-sessions-tickets.