Barb Seaman carefully interacts with youngsters each day in her position as Washougal High School’s library media teacher. As such, she sees them once they’re at their greatest and at their worst. Lately, she’s seen extra of the latter.

“The mental health challenges our youth face are prevalent everywhere,” Seaman mentioned. “There’s anxiety, depression, stress and uncertainty. They’re learning about socializing and getting along (with each other), and that can be hard. Older students need to make decisions about what direction to go after they graduate. And the pandemic was hard on everyone. I just have this sense that kids need a lot of support from all of the adults in their lives.”

So when Seaman heard that Lifeline Connections, a Vancouver-based nonprofit group that gives care to these experiencing substance abuse or psychological sickness, was on the lookout for areas to host its revived youth psychological well being first assist program, she knew that it needed to come to Washougal if doable.

Lifeline Connections is partnering with the Washougal School District and the East County Citizens Alliance nonprofit group to supply free youth psychological well being coaching to adults who often work together with youngsters.

“I think this is important because in the school setting, a student can’t learn when they’re having a mental health problem,” Seaman mentioned. “I see it as our job to be aware of that and find ways to support them so they can get back to learning and growing as soon as possible. That’s why this mental health first aid training appeals to me.”

The classes will happen from 4 to six:30 p.m. Tuesdays, April 18, April 25 and May 2, on the Washougal High School Library.

“It’s helpful for us to be informed about common mental health concerns among the young members of our community,” mentioned Seaman, an East County Citizens Alliance volunteer. “It’s helpful for those of us who work with kids to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health problems.”

Youth psychological well being first assist is an evidence-based program that teaches adults find out how to determine, perceive and reply to indicators of psychological well being and substance-use challenges amongst youngsters ages 12 to 18, based on Lifeline Connections.

The coaching will assist attendees acknowledge frequent indicators and signs of psychological well being challenges, together with nervousness, despair, consuming problems, consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction and substance abuse; perceive find out how to work together with a youngster in disaster; know find out how to join a youngster with assist; and higher perceive trauma, substance abuse, self-care, and the affect of social media and bullying.

Lifeline Connections acquired a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that can present funding for this system for the subsequent 5 years.

To register for the classes, go to tinyurl.com/2s4x956.