Dear WASD Families,
The Windber Area School District is deeply committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our students and community. As part of this commitment, we are excited to offer a free in-person Youth Mental Health First Aid training for interested families this January.
This training is designed to equip participants with essential skills to support young people experiencing mental health challenges. You will learn:
- The Mental Health First Aid Action Plan to guide your response effectively.
- Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in youth.
- Indicators of substance use challenges in children and adolescents.
- Strategies to interact with children or adolescents experiencing a crisis.
- How to connect them with the appropriate resources and support.
The training will take place over the course of three Saturdays, with each session lasting approximately two hours:
- Saturday, January 11, 2025: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Saturday, January 18, 2025: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Saturday, January 25, 2025: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
All sessions will be held at the high school. Attendance at all three sessions is recommended to fully benefit from the training.
This initiative builds on the district’s efforts to create a robust support system for students. Over 90% of our secondary staff have already completed this training, and we plan to train all 11th graders this coming spring. Our goal is to foster a community where students feel supported and connected, especially as suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among youth.
We encourage families to join us in this critical effort by participating in the training. To register, please complete the registration form by December 13, 2024. Space may be limited, so early registration is encouraged.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our School Psychologist, Mrs. Melanie Christy at [email protected]