Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare Hosts Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Course

PALM COAST, Fla. - April 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare is pleased to announce a free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification course for Flagler County residents on Friday, May 15^th, 2015 from 8am to 5:30pm at the Flagler County Government Services Building.

The course will be instructed by Sini Summerlin, MHFA instructor, who will teach a five-step action plan to offer initial help to people with signs and symptoms of a mental illness, or who are in crisis, and learn to connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social or self help care.

“You are more likely to come in contact with a person who is experiencing a mental illness than a person suffering from a heart attack,” stated Summerlin. “This is an essential course to take for anyone that works with young adults,” added Summerlin.

Anyone that resides or works in Flagler County can take the 8-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid course, but it is ideally designed for adults who work with young people, ages 12-18 — teachers, coaches, leaders of faith communities, social workers, and other caring citizens

Seating is limited and registration is required. The Flagler County Government Services Building is located at 1769 E. Moody Blvd. in Bunnell and the class will be held in Building 2, 3rd Floor, Room 3. To register, follow this link: https://docs.google.com/a/marketing2go.biz/forms/d/1XWCmixNJUhoJB4Fhh6cmYscOO2oMZMDUaxRsaPHEQc8/viewform

For more information or to participate in a Mental Health First Aid training in Flagler County, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid-florida.com or email Sini Summerlin, MHFA contact at mhfa.florida@gmail.com.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare has been serving the northeast Florida community with mental health and drug treatment services for over 50 years. They operate 35 mental health and substance abuse programs, providing prevention, diversion, intervention, and treatment services, delivered to a diverse client population in a 4-county region (Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia). SMA’s St. Johns clinic provides outpatient mental health and addictions services to more than 1,000 residents annually.

SMA Behavioral Healthcare’s mission is to deliver exceptional and comprehensive behavioral healthcare to individuals and families in our community. Their vision is of a community where addiction and mental illness are treated promptly, comprehensively and with respect for all.

Mental Health First Aid originated in 2001 in Australia under the direction of founders Betty Kitchener and Tony Jorm. To date, it has been replicated in twenty other countries worldwide, including Hong Kong, Scotland, England, Canada, Finland, and Singapore. They can be reached 800-539-4228 or online at http://www.smabehavioral.orgor stay connected with them on Facebook at www.mentalhealthfirstaid-florida.com, or https://www.facebook.com/mhfa.florida.