Mental health first aid kit for youth workers

Aims & objectives

After COVID-19 there has been a noticeable increase with mental health difficulties that people working with the youth encounter daily. Often the stress for youth workers rises from wanting to help the struggling youngsters but not having the knowledge or toolset to manage the situations. The main goal for this training course was to provide youth
workers and educators with specific tools and know-hows for managing and supporting youngsters in difficult situations. In addition, it aimed to create a safe space for sharing experience between youth workers and share good practices already being used.

The training was built around 4 key objectives:
1. How to recognize when a person's behavior is not normal and should need interference and where to turn to
2. How to give mental health “first aid” to
other people
3. To learn and practice tools for group
crisis management and communication
4. To share experience and situations that
have already happened

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

The training course was designed for youth workers, facilitators, coordinators or educators who actively work with young people. The participants were coming from Italy, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Spain, Croatia and Lithuania.

Training methods used & main activities

Constellation, theathre, personality test followed by a testing game, guided walks, grounding excercises, group work and discussions, breathing and managing intrusive thoughts excercises, creation of a crisis plan

Outcomes of the activity

A booklet created in national teams containing the most relevant tips and tools collected and experienced during the training as well as mental health resource contacts of each representing country to use in the future in their line of work.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I was the lead coordinator as well as one of the trainers for preparing, implementing and closing the project.

I worked on this training for 5 days as a full time trainer.

Testimonial of the reference person

Liisu is just an exceptional trainer and human. Welt of knowledge and experience in non formal education is her key resource delivered with ease, empathy and affirmation.
It was a great match combining our resources and creating together a brave space for growth, learning, and transformation.