LANCASTER, PA – Lancaster General Hospital, a member of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, and in partnership with Community Services Group (CSG), is pleased to announce free Mental Health First Aid Trainings open to members of our community.

The Adult Mental Health First Aid Training is a free training designed to teach neighbors, family members, caregivers, co-workers, friends, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help another adult who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The training program will be held 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 at the Parish Resource Center, 2160 Lincoln Highway East #18, Lancaster, PA. 17602.

The Youth Mental Health First Aid Training is a free training that teaches adults how to help an adolescent (ages 12 to 18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or crisis. The training is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, such as family members, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens. The program will be held 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at Community Services Group, 1902 Olde Homestead Lane, Lancaster, PA. 17601.

During each training, participants will:

When a training is completed, a participant will be certified as either a Adult Mental Health First Aider or Youth Mental Health First Aider.

Mental illness, including serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance, is persistent, has significant community impact, and requires community interventions. Despite existing efforts, mental illness remains a challenge facing families in Lancaster County. 

The Mental Health First Aid Community Collaborative is supported by a grant to Lancaster General Hospital from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

The grant provides Mental Health First Aid Training, an evidence-based program that provides youth and adults with the skills and resources necessary to recognize and address mental illness, improve pathways to services, and help to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

Registration for the trainings is required. Click here to register, or contact Brook Hummel hummelb@csgonline.org.

For more information on Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s mental/behavioral health services, please visit our website at: https://www.lghealth.org/lp/BehavioralHealth/.