Mental health class held for youth pastors and leaders in Columbus
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – When it comes to professions that may deal with people battling with mental health issues, most people may think of police officers, nurses, doctors, and even teachers, but youth pastors and leaders may also work with people who battle the disease.
Baptist Memorial Golden Triangle Hospital is trying to provide aid and resources for Youth pastors and leaders.
The Hospital held a Youth Mental Health First Aid class for Youth Pastors and Leaders in the area.
During the class, attendees learned about mental health, how to interact with a young person in crisis, and how to connect them with help.
Attendees also got to learn more about the signs and symptoms of mental health, and information on trauma, self-care, and the impact of social media and bullying.
One of the instructors of the class, Lydia Dent, said, This was all to help those who attended learn important skills, to support a person, or a family in crisis.
“I think this will help them a lot. For one thing, a lot of people do not notice the signs in youth, and they look at it as just a regular thing,” said Dent. “Young people sleep a lot, and they may look at it as ‘oh that is just normal,’ this can show them to be more aware. If you see these signs in a young person, get them the help that they need and use the resources that we are giving today during this training, to give to other people so that they can use it, so that we can get more people better because wellness is our goal.”
“I feel like it is very important because the youth are experiencing so many things at their age, that we did not experience until our adult life,” said Daphne Abrams, Mental Health Class Participant. “It is important that we get the education that we need to be able to help them, because it should all start with us. We cannot help them if we are not able to identify what they are dealing with, and sometimes they will not verbally express it, but we should have the knowledge to be able to identify their lack of communication, body language, attitude changes, and this class is helping us equip ourselves, so that we can help them. I think it is very important that we keep an open dialogue with children and give them a safe place where they can express their feelings and emotions. This helps eliminate that fear factor and that shame factor in the community, church and in the home, where they are freely able to express how they feel, and what they are dealing with,” said Daphne Abrams, Mental Health Class Participant/Minister.
“I signed up to be a participant because of my personal experiences with mental health challenges,” said Erica Horton, Class participant. “I have been fighting to get mental health care for my son, and that made me want to be more of an advocate and be able to get the resources needed to help others. This is going to help me tremendously because now I know exactly what to look for, and how to respond. It goes further than just my child, this is going to help be the advocate, and to pass along the information so that others can learn and get help as well.”
Dent also said there will be more mental health classes held in the future to continue to spread knowledge of how to interact with people who battle with mental health.
