The Goals of Youth Mental Health First Aid USA are twofold—to teach members of the public how to respond in a mental health emergency with you and young adults and to offer support to a young person who appears to be in emotional distress. By using Youth Mental Health First Aid, individuals coming into contact with you and young adults can acquire the basic knowledge and skills to respond to a young person in distress.
Mental health status, as with physical health status, affects everyone. In fact, mental health problems are more common than heart disease, lung disease, and cancer combined. One in five Americans is estimated to have a diagnosable mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or substance use in any given year, including 13.7 million children. Of those children with a diagnosable disorder, only a third get help from formal mental health care or substance abuse services. First aiders can help address this serious problem by understanding several key concepts woven throughout Youth Mental Health First Aid USA.