GAINESVILLE – “First Aid” is exactly what its name implies: the initial assistance given to someone when a problem appears so as to prevent its worsening.
First Aid is critical; it can mean the difference between life and death. It is so important that all Gainesville City School teachers and staff members at the middle and high school level took a specialized First Aid course this past week.
However, the sessions taken by the 300-plus teachers and staff did not include bandages, splints or ice packs, common to many first aid classes. Instead the sessions included role playing, situational discussions and developing a multi-step action plan.
Participants in this First Aid training weren’t learning how to deal with cuts and bruises; rather they were learning how to recognize adolescent anxiety, depression, substance abuse and various other disorders.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is the program chosen by Gainesville City Schools to comply with recent legislation requiring teachers in Georgia to receive instruction in mental health intervention according to Deputy Superintendent Sarah Bell.
“Last year the state provided the opportunity for us to have some training,” Bell said. “We provided it to our social workers and our counselors at the end of the year and got very positive feedback.”
“This was something that we felt would be beneficial for our teachers, our administrators, our front office staff…to know how to help support our kids,” Bell added. “We know that many of our kids come from situations where they might need a little extra support and we felt this program would do that.”
Initially the program is for those working in the middle and high school, but Bell said district leaders were considering the possibility of incorporating it into the elementary school level as well. “We feel that some of the material is appropriate,” Bell explained.
Gainesville Middle School Principal Misty Freeman said the term “mental health” can be misleading to some. “The stigma of ‘mental health’…might mean crazy and that’s a negative thing. But mental health might mean anxiety…depression,” Freeman explained.
She said a better understanding of the use of the term “mental health” might be, “What strategies can we help those children with to overcome depression, anxiety, eating disorder.”
Shannon McGonigal teaches at GMS. She said some of the things being discussed in the Youth Mental Health First Aid program Friday morning she had witnessed in her classrooms.
She said oftentimes students actually seek out help. “They’re coming to you because they trust you and they want help, and I can take them to the next step.”
LaVerne Duthie said she was getting good insights and a better understanding of her role in the lives of her students from the Mental Health First Aid program, as well.
Before Duthie began teaching at GMS she was a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army. As a career soldier she is well acquainted with structure and discipline.
“What I establish from the beginning is that I have expectations… it takes time for them to see the love I have for them. The kids that I have I’m tough on them from Day One…but our kids know that we love them,” Duthie confessed.
“It’s all about relationships,” McGonigal said.
“Absolutely,” Duthie agreed.
(Use the audio player above to hear Sarah Bell and Misty Freeman discuss the Youth Mental Health First Aid program.)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/1/749951/gainesville-middle-and-high-school-teachers-learn-first-aid-for-the-young-mind