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The Mental Health Awareness Training project has concluded. To find available courses in your area, please visit https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/population-focused-modules/youth/.

Through the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) Grant, Embrace Families Solutions has partnered with Wraparound Orange/Orange County Government, Aspire Health Partners (Aspire), National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Orlando (NAMIGO), Federation of Families of Central Florida, and Robin Daily of the Zebra Coalition, to provide a variety of mental health related trainings free of cost to the community. Target training populations include law enforcement, school personnel, faith-based groups, community center staff and volunteers, and families.

Our goal is to raise awareness for identifying and responding to mental health needs in youth. Approximately half of all mental health disorders develop by age 14. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24. Between 2013 and 2018, there have been 2,283 psychiatric hospitalizations for youth under the age of 17 in Orange County alone.

  • To explore community Mental Health & Substance Use Resources, click here 
  • Para más información sobre Página de Ayuda para Salud Mental Y Uso de Sustancias, haga clic aqui

Key Areas of Focus:

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an evidence-based, eight-hour training course designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, and human services workers how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health, addictions challenge or crisis. YMHFA is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

To request a training for your workplace or to find out about the next upcoming training please email Kathryn, MHAT Project Coordinator at kathryn.labrador@embracefamilies.org.

Delivered in partnership with Aspire Health Partners, this 40-hour training program is designed to improve the way law enforcement and the community respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

To request a training for your workplace or to find out about the next upcoming training please email Kathryn, MHAT Project Coordinator at kathryn.labrador@embracefamilies.org.

In partnership with NAMIGO and Wraparound Orange, a program of Orange County Government, this 8-hour training course is designed for police officers and mental health professionals. This course uses a new youth-focused curriculum and provides valuable tools on topics including adolescent development and psychiatric disorder; self-injury and suicide; civil citations; the individual and family experience; and de-escalation/reflective listening.


For more information about this course, visit visit https://namigo.org/programs/education-classes-trainings-presentations/.

Delivered in partnership with NAMIGO, the project is offering three unique courses to help families, friends and students support their loved ones with mental health needs.

  • Ending the Silence (ETS) – A mental health, suicide prevention and anti-stigma program is presented to high school students, school personnel, or parents/caregivers. ETS is presented by a trained two-person team, one of whom is a young adult living in recovery with a mental health disorder. It emphasizes that mental health disorders are treatable and recovery is possible. Includes visual presentation of signs and symptoms of various mental health disorders and Q&A session.
  • NAMI Basics Education Program – 6 session course for parents/caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties. It explores biological bases of mental health disorders; obtaining accurate diagnoses; treatment options; system recordkeeping (school, legal, health); and crisis preparation and response. The course helps with developing communication skills, problem solving, handling challenging behavior, relapse planning and impact on family members.
  • NAMI Family 2 Family – 12 session education program for family, friends and caregivers with a loved one living with mental health disorders. The course is designed to help them understand and support their loved one, while maintaining their own well-being. It is taught by trained teachers who are also family members who know what it is like to have a loved one living with a mental health disorder. It focuses upon strategies and tools for healing and empowerment: coping skills; handling periods of crisis and relapse; medication information; treatment options; the biology of the brain; communication and problem-solving skills; locating resources; and caring for the caregiver. The course includes information on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other mental health conditions. It includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises.


For more information about this course, visit visit https://namigo.org/programs/education-classes-trainings-presentations/.