Join Alex 10/5 for a Free Mental Health First Aid Training for LGBTQ Folks in Brooklyn
Oh, hey!
If I had my way and Saint Damita Jo Jackson was president of the world, rice-on-demand, housing, and access to therapy and other forms of healing would be free for all. Even the Taylor Swift fans.
In the meantime, I’m teaming up with the folks at Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) to offer a free Mental Health First Aid training for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Aside from learning an action plan to help recognize signs and symptoms of someone developing a mental health disorder or substance/alcohol use disorder, we’ll address stigmas and the emotional impacts of institutional melanin envy & homo-/bi-/queer/transphobia & structural hateration in the dancerie, our language around mental illness, and explore local and nationwide resources available to community members and Mental Health First Aiders alike.
Because compassion is free and each of us has the ability to be of service to and potential lifesaver for someone. Especially Taylor Swift fans.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an interactive 8-hour training course that presents an overview of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in the U.S. The course introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and reviews common treatments. Similar to traditional First Aid and CPR, MHFA is help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis until professional treatment is obtained or the crisis resolves.
After reserving your spot, you’ll receive an email with instructions for registering with ThriveNYC prior to the course. This is important as the certification you’ll receive lasts 3 years and the folks at the National Council for Behavioral Health will hit you on your two-way pager about recertification and other opportunities. (And registering ahead of time will save us valuable classroom time, plus paperwork isn't good for anyone's mental health.)
Refreshments and free participant manuals will be provided. Hope to see you there.
This training is appropriate for anyone 18 years old and up. I’ll have mental health professionals on hand as well. If you know any young LGBTQ folks, send em on down. We can also connect them to wellness resources & testing, therapy, housing, and support.
You're so pretty.
alex.