• This training is built for caring professionals working with youth experiencing mental health challenges, especially anxiety, depression, self-harm and substance use, misuse and abuse.
• The course will focus on teaching skills that help youth manage emotions and build emotional regulation techniques and resilience. It will cover select skills including emotional regulation management and healthy relationships and will focus on skill areas covered in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT is an evidence-based form of cognitive behavioural therapy for teenagers and adults who experience significant trouble managing their emotions, thoughts and behaviou This part of the course will be led by a visiting London-based therapist/trainer (Mind Reframed, Psychological and Mindfulness Services www.mindreframed.com)
  

• DBT has demonstrated the capacity to decrease self-harm and suicidality, and to improve mental health indicators such as depression and anxiety (Bohus et al., 2004), all of which include problems with regulating emotion.

Register for the course 
To register for the course scroll down to the end of this page and read the Eligibility and Selection criteria.
Registrations to be submitted by 5th January 2022 17.00 hrs.

The course will firstly provide a brief overview on the following mental health areas:

depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance use, misuse and abuse. It will also cover foundational theories on mental health including the theory of attachment. It will then focus on the following skill building areas:

• Emotional regulation
• Healthy interpersonal relationships
• Distress management
• Mindfulness

Session 1
Understanding the Basics of Child and Adolescent Behaviour Theories as well as Basics of Trauma

The first part of the course will cover the fundamentals of the following mental health conditions: depression, anxiety, self-harm and substance use, misuse and abuse and will link key theories of child and adolecsent behaviour as well as an understanding of trauma specifically to these mental health conditions. Here reference will also be made with regards to challenging behaviour and the value of boundary setting, risk of exploitation, defiant and oppositional behaviour.

Session 2
Understanding the Context of Family and Environment on Infant and Child Development 

Following that, the course will focus on understanding risk factors that make some children and young people more likely to experience mental health problems (mainly depression, anxiety, self-harm and substance abuse) than other children and young people. It will highlight the importance of diagnosing children and young people who experience mental health problems early in life in preventing mental health problems becoming chronic and difficult to treat as well as the value of knowing what support is available for children and young people who experience mental health problems and their parents/carers.

Session 3
Promoting Mental Wellbeing – The Role of Emotional Regulation

This session will highlight the importance of developing resilience and emotion regulation in young people to support positive mental health in later life. Implementing specific emotion regulation strategies for youth facing depression, anxiety, self-harm and substance abuse – understanding the link between difficulties youth face regulating emotions and specific mental health challenges

Session 4
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Part 1:

Introducing useful skills from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy that can be used with youth namely Emotional regulation, Healthy Interpersonal Relationships, Distress management/Mindfulness.  (Part 1)

Session 5
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills Part 2:

Practicing useful skills from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy that can be used with youth namely Emotional regulation, Healthy Interpersonal Relationships, Distress management/Mindfulness.  (Part 2)

Eligibility:
The course is only open to the professionals and employees working in the project partner organisations:
Richmond Foundation (Lead project partner)
OASI Foundation
The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS)
Mental Health Services (Under the Ministry for Health)
Conservatorio Vincenzo Bugeja (Fejda and Jeanne Antide residential homes)

Experience and Qualifications:

Either

Youth Mental Health First Aid; 3 plus years’ experience working with children or youth; Assessment by immediate manager confirming knowledge and skills regarding basics of child and adolescent development and knowledge and understanding around the mental health conditions of anxiety, depression, self-harm and substance abuse.

or

Qualification (Level 5 or 6) in psychiatric nursing, psychology, psychotherapy.

or

Qualification (Level 5 or 6) in Social work, youth studies, occupational therapy  and Youth Mental Health First Aid

Selection Criteria:
Up to 10 employees from Richmond Foundation
Up to 3 employees from Mental Health Services
Up to 3 employees from OASI Foundation
Up to 3 employees from The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS)
Up to 3 employees Vincenzo Bugeja (Fejda and Jeanne Antide residential homes)

Should the organisations have more than 3 eligible employees, the ones with most years of experience and who have supervisory roles will be selected.

Course Fee:
The course is being offered free of charge, being part funded by ESF and co-financed by Richmond Foundation and Mental Health Services.

Registration

Click on this link to register for the course.

Registrations to be submitted by 5th January 2022 17.00 hrs.