Teen Mental Health First Aid

TMHFA Training For LITs

During Camp Dreamcatcher’s 2026 summer session, we introduced Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) for the first time, giving our Leaders-in-Training (LITs), ages 16–17, valuable tools to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges among their peers.

Teenagers spend much of their time with friends, classmates, and other young people their age. Because of these close connections, they may be among the first to notice when a friend is struggling. Equipping teens with the knowledge and confidence to recognize warning signs, start supportive conversations, and seek appropriate help can make a meaningful difference.

The LITs completed 4.5 hours of training facilitated by Patty Hillkirk and Laura McAliley and  learned how to recognize early warning signs of mental health and substance use challenges, talk to friends about seeking help, identify when a responsible adult should be involved, and find reliable resources for additional support. They also learned to apply the tMHFA Action Plan to help a friend experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis.

Beyond learning practical skills, the training encouraged our LITs to think about empathy, self-care, resilience, and the importance of taking every mental health concern seriously.

After each session, LITs answered a question: “What is the one thing you learned today?”  These are some of their answers that show the importance of the traning:

  • “To pay attention to people’s actions.”

  • “I learned that 1 in 5 teens deal with mental health issues.”

  • “Different things affect people very differently.”

  • “I learned self-care and resilience.”

  • “To take every mental crisis seriously because you could save someone’s life.”

One participant also reflected on the dangers of using substances to cope with depression, highlighting the importance of finding healthier ways to manage difficult emotions.

By introducing Teen Mental Health First Aid, Camp Dreamcatcher is helping young people build the awareness and skills to support one another, recognize when someone may need help, and understand that they don’t have to face these challenges alone. We are proud of our LITs for embracing this opportunity to learn, grow, and become more informed and compassionate members of their community.

49.5%

of adolescents ages 13-18 live with a mental disorder.

More than 1 in 5 (22.2%) of them experience a severe impairment.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

50%

of all mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by the mid-20s.

Source: Archives of General Psychiatry***

 

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth age

15-19.

 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics

If you’re interested in tMHFA training, please reach out to the camp director Patty Hillkirk at Phillkirk@campdreamcatcher.org