AIM Youth Mental Health

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. It is essentially a CPR class for mental health, provides education on how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among the youth in need in their community. Teen Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach teens how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. Teens gain the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and learn how to get help from a responsible and trusted adult.In 2024, Youth Mental Health First Aid trained 320 adult participants to respond effectively to youth mental health challenges. Among the certified adults were parents, guardians, school staff and faculty as well as staff and volunteers affiliated with youth serving organizations such as First Tee Monterey County, Boys to Men Mentoring, All Saints Day School, Aspire Health and Monterey County Office of Education. All adult participants became certified to directly support or work with youth.In 2024, AIM successfully launched Teen Mental Health First Aid and certified a total of 52 highschoolers. AIM partnered with Sun Street Centers Salinas, California, Monterey County Office of Education and WestView High School, San Diego, California to certify the 52 teens.

The AIM Ideas Lab is a culturally responsive, project-based Youth Participatory Action Research program that inspires teens to explore youth mental health solutions. AIM Ideas Lab Program provides high school students with guidance and support in identifying their own mental health solutions by learning about scientific survey design and creating their own peer-to-peer mental health survey. Students then analyze the results and gain unique insights into emerging youth mental health challenges, develop recommendations, and propose solutions. The AIM Ideas Lab students present their research to educators, parents, researchers, and policy makers in the community. Through ongoing exploration, youth researchers, the AIM Scientific Advisory Board, and adult mentors work together to find solutions to the growing youth mental health crisis.In 2024, the AIM Ideas Lab Program engaged 90 youth researchers from 37 different schools resulting in 1,156 high school survey respondents who shared their experiences, perspectives, and solutions.