Youth workers in Central are needed to become New Zealand’s first instructors of a new Youth Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa programme.

Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group and Te Pou (a national workforce development provider for the mental health, addiction, and disability sectors) are seeking ten Southern Lakes locals to complete the five days of training.

The international training programme for young people aged 11-18 is currently being adapted for New Zealand-specific use by Te Pou. It will be launched in the Southern Lakes region in June. 

Te Hau Toka has funded the one-off development cost and, once the local new instructor training is completed, the programme will be made available nationally through Te Pou to benefit other regions.

 Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group chair Adell Cox says the Youth Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa programme will be vital in upskilling people working with youth to understand the challenges rangatahi are facing and how best to support them.

“Our focus is on prevention and early intervention with an equity lens so it’s vital that we give those working with our rangatahi the best world-leading knowledge, tools and support to do that.”

Applicants must have experience working with youth; have an engaging presentation style; be embedded in their local communities; and be available for a course in June in Queenstown.

The programme the instructors will learn to teach covers common mental health challenges and crises experienced by young people including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, substance use, and psychosis. 

Once the instructors pass the course, they will be certified to train other adults working with youth across the Southern Lakes region to become youth mental health first aiders.  

Te Pou chief executive Rae Lamb says there is a real need for targeted support for rangatahi in Aotearoa. 

“We know that about half of mental health challenges occur before 18 years of age and that early intervention can reduce the impact. Ensuring adults working with youth have the skills and confidence to provide first aid to a young person experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis will make a huge difference to the outcome.”

For more information, including the criteria and how to apply, visit tepou.co.nz .