If you’re a parent, church youth group leader, school bus driver or anyone else who relates to children and you want to know how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness or substance abuse disorders, you may benefit from an eight-hour training session by the Clark County Health Department.

Youth Mental Health First Aid will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, in the lower conference room of the Health Department at 400 Professional Ave.

There is no charge for the course, which is paid for through a state Department of Education Project AWARE grant, but registration is required by noon Thursday. Anyone interested may call health educator Angela Bereznak at 744-4482, ext. 1012, or email her at angelar.bereznak@ky.gov, and she will provide them a link to the website for online registration.

Participation is limited to 25 persons because that is all the conference room can accommodate.

There will be a one-hour break for lunch, but lunch is not provided.

“It’s for anyone that is interested in learning about mental illness and substance abuse in youth,” Bereznak said. “It’s ideal for people who work with youth on a daily basis.”

Bereznak said the course, which can be divided into two four-hour sessions during the same week, has been presented to businesses and the general public before in Clark County, but this is the first time at the Health Department.

This training gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to adolescents ages 12-18 who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

For more information, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.