Chenango Health Network and Madison County Rural Health Council are offering a free Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification Course, which will take place over two sessions from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 3 at the Norwich Family YMCA. (Sun file photo)

NORWICH ― Chenango Health Network and Madison County Rural Health Council are collaborating to offer a free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification Course designed to teach adults how to help adolescents who are experiencing mental health challenges.

The class will be held over two sessions from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, December 2 and Tuesday, December 3 at the Norwich Family YMCA, located at 68-70 North Broad Street in Norwich. Dinner and materials will be provided.

Adults aged 18 and older may register for the class. To sign up, contact Chenango Health Network MHFA Coordinator Tiffani Gager at tiffani@chenangohealth.org or Madison County Rural Health Council MHFA Program Manager Jamie Hagenbuch at jamie@mcruralhealthcouncil.org.

Participants must complete two hours of online training before the in-person classes. Upon completing both days of training, participants will receive Youth Mental Health First Aider certification for three years.

Hagenbuch said anyone with youth or adolescents in their life should take the class to learn the warning signs of a mental health struggle or crisis, how to approach a youth in crisis while being supportive and non-judgmental, how to connect youth to mental health resources, and the importance of self care.