MHA's Child and Teen Mental Health Programs educate primary care physicians, families, schools and care providers throughout Delaware about the early warning signs of mental health problems. These programs help promote greater understanding of the causes of these problems and treatment options.

Beyond Stress Teen is an ongoing mental health education program designed to help adolescents reduce the risks of stress and depression through presentations in Delaware's high schools, Wellness Centers, community programs, and juvenile justice system.

By participating in the Beyond Stress Teen, students will:

• Identify symptoms of stress
• Build stress reduction techniques
• Learn how to recognize early warning signs of mental health problems
• Learn when, how and where to seek help in the community if their stress levels become overwhelming

Train-the-Trainer Now Available

Beyond Stress Teen outreach to adolescents is now expanding to offer training to teachers and professionals who want to incorporate stress and depression education into their curriculum. The primary goal is to assist teachers in developing a lesson plan from an existing model that teaches vital mental health information about stress and depression to youth in an at-risk age group. Major objectives are to educate participants about the common signs and symptoms of stress and depression in teens, exercises that decrease stigma about mental health, and messages that promote their students seeking help.

To schedule a Beyond Stress Teen presentation or to learn more about Train-the-Trainer, please contact Barbara Hill , Community Educator, at (302)654-6833x20, (800)287-6423 in Kent/Sussex.

MHA is involved with advocacy on behalf of Delaware's children and adolescents with mental health issues, in the areas of juvenile justice and early intervention and prevention.