TOMS RIVER, NJ—Staff members from Toms River Regional Schools’ three high schools have recently completed their First Aid certification, focusing on mental health. The certification, achieved during a professional development day on February 16, comes through a partnership with RWJBarnabas Health.
The Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) program, alongside the Teen Mental Health First Aid (MFA), aims to enhance the district’s mental health initiatives significantly. A press release announced the programs, highlighting their importance in advancing district mental health awareness and intervention efforts.
The YMHFA program educates participants on recognizing and responding to mental health and substance use challenges in children and adolescents aged 12-18. The district staff started with web-based training and completed their certification during a recent professional development session.
Cara DiMeo, Assistant Superintendent of Toms River Regional Schools, emphasized the program’s value. “This is an awesome opportunity for us to provide teens with the appropriate education needed to recognize signs of distress in their peers and to direct them to trusted adults who can gain them quick access to resources,” DiMeo stated, noting that tMHFA acts as a vital supplement to health class instruction.