Arizona State Library will be offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training to library staff. It will be taught by certified professional instructors from Southwest Behavioral & Health Services. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to train people that work with youth and caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. We also hope to bring Mental Health First Aid Training for Adults in the upcoming months. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. For more information, visit https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/  This is a full day of training with a half an hour lunch. This program will also be offered on October 23 in Peoria.