Waterbury Youth Services: Elevating Expertise in Youth Mental Health

To further bolster the wellbeing of the community's youth, several Waterbury Youth Services staff completed an insightful Youth Mental Health training and First Aid session on Tuesday, May 9th. Provided by EdAdvance, the session was spearheaded by Diane Cassidy and Julia Puzone, in recognition of Mental Health Month.

EdAdvance, leading the charge in Mental Health Awareness and Training, collaborates closely with a wide range of partners, such as Apex Community Services, Greenwoods Counseling and Referral Services, and Western CT Coalition. Their collective objective is to provide pivotal programs like Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Teen Mental Health First Aid, and QPR Suicide Prevention Training.

The star of their program, Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), is a 7.5-hour masterclass that delves into identifying mental health issues in adolescents early, managing crisis and non-crisis situations, and reducing mental health stigma.

A shoutout to EdAdvance for keeping our staff trained and ready to serve our youth better!