28 Alaska Job Corps students are now certified in the Alaska Youth Mental Health First Aid program. This involved an eight hour intensive training from Deb Cosello, project coordinator for “You Are Not Alone,” a youth led suicide prevention training and outreach program which teaches to most high schools in the entire state. The other instructor is retired Anchorage Police Officer, Wendy Shackelford.

Gathered around six small tables, the geographically diverse students learned about how to “read situations and identify risk factors,” become comfortable with the “uncomfortable” and above all how to help themselves and others in times of great stress.

This credential training was initiated by the HOPE Wellness group at the Alaska Job Corps. The mission is to promote health and skills that will enable students to do well in their chosen careers. The Youth Mental Health First Aid Program is one of a variety of supplemental credentials which enhance the nine career trade choices.

Wellness Manager, Melissa Sennes says, “These are fundamental skills that will make our students the survivors in any place of work.” Career Counselor and HOPE group advisor Mary Ellen Merrick agrees. “Our students are better balanced and better prepared for any type of situation now.”

Mental Health First Aid, USA is a national initiative with a variety of sponsors. Alaska had a 4 year grant to provide training to all residents free of charge; this coincided with the State’s initiative “ACT Alaskans changing together” which is a youth coalition building initiative designed to build wellness in communities with a focus on suicide prevention.