"Mental Health Triage" is designed to assist school employees, volunteers and ancillary staff to determine the nature and severity of a potential mental health problem or emotional distress in a student. Mental health triage is much like traditional medical triage in that by determining the nature and severity of potential risk to the individual, other students or staff, it becomes possible to assess the urgency and type of required response. An emphasis is placed on real life situations, appropriate action and compassionate, cautious and consistent response. The idea of School Based Mental Health Triage is still relatively new and therefore, subject to a bit of confusion. It is often helpful to point out what SbMHT is NOT...It is NOT treatment, it is NOT a replacement for therapy or counseling, and it is NOT a substitute for a thorough evaluation. It IS a way to recognize, respond and refer children in need of help in the most consistent, timely and meaningful manner possible. School Based Mental Health Triage is also a concept being used to address a variety of concerns; from school shootings to the death of a classmate, victims of violence to cyber stalking, children are subjected to many different forms of stress, trauma and even overt mental illness. Unfortunately, children often have limited coping skills, immature response patterns and minimal control over their own choices: tragically, this has resulted in a series of unimaginable events over the past several years. School staff and other professionals are increasingly challenged to recognize the signs and symptoms of emotional distress, trauma, anxiety and overt mental illness in order to reduce the risk of crisis escalation, make needed referrals and protect both the individual and others at risk. To that end, this course attempts to focus on the most meaningful "real life" applications, situations and examples possible. This is a tough topic. At times it is nothing short of painful as we deconstruct actual events and situations in order to learn from them the best we can. It is difficult to call a course like this "enjoyable" but it is our most sincere hope that you find this course among the most meaningful you will ever encounter.
Number of Units: 2.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours
Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for K-12 educators, as well as other school professionals, such as school nurses, psychologists, counselors and administrators. Parents and school volunteers can also benefit from this program.
Course Materials: Text, Crisis Intervention Handbook: Assessment, Treatment and Research by Albert Roberts and Kenneth Yeager. This book is available at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com.
Technical Requirements
Prerequisites:
EDU-X791J, Introduction to Mental Health First Response is recommended, but not required, to be completed prior to taking this course.
Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the Online Orientation and your online course.
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The class and entire certificate series is more relevant now than ever before. I’m better prepared for MH emergencies and grateful for this timely training.
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