Mamaroneck High School Staff And Students Complete A Unique Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

MAMARONECK, NY — When the new school year starts one Westchester School will have an essential resource in place.

Teachers and student support staff at Mamaroneck High School recently completed a full-day Youth Mental Health First Aid training, earning certification as Youth Mental Health First Aiders. The session at the school was led by LM Lions President Lina Pasquale, a Larchmont-Mamaroneck resident and nationally certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor.

Youth Mental Health First Aid, or YMHFA, gives participants skills to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in young people. The training was described as part of a broader community effort to strengthen support for youth wellbeing across the Larchmont-Mamaroneck community.

The effort grew out of a multi-year OCRA, or Original Civic Research and Action, project led by Mamaroneck High School students Gray Hackett and Zakir Strugatskiy. Their project focused on advancing youth wellbeing and included advocacy for having MHS teachers and staff trained and certified in the nationally recognized model.

Working with Pasquale as mentor and advisor, and with support from MHS team members Helene Fremdner and Joseph Liberti as well as Mamaroneck School District administrators, Gray and Zakir helped move the training from idea to completion, according to the information provided. Their work also included researching and assessing factors that promote youth wellbeing and resilience, while exploring barriers to accessing needed mental health supports among MHS students.

The students also created microlearning and engagement sessions based on their research findings and developed peer-led mental health and wellbeing groups for students at the high school. Organizers say that leadership has already had an impact and is expected to continue strengthening support for young people in Larchmont and Mamaroneck.