City of Keene-Youth Services Department

The wellness groups, target age is middle and high school-aged youth. While groups are open to all who want to join, the lessons focus on at-risk youth. Wellness groups are lesson-based and peer-focused sessions where youth are encouraged to engage in effective and supportive conversations with trained staff. Youth learn about substance use and coping strategies, and these groups support youth in creating a growth mindset. The groups are very individualized for the students who attend. While we focus on developed curriculum-based lessons, staff do individual check-ins with youth to see what is going to be the most effective topic for that day.

Mental Health First Aid is for Cheshire County community members who engage with youth ages 12-18 years old. Youth Mental Health First Aid trains adults who either work with youth or are simply caring citizens to navigate how to help a youth who is experiencing a mental health crisis or addiction challenge. This training is critical to communities by equipping community members with needed tools and knowledge to create a more accepting and supportive environment for our youth. Teen Mental Health First Aid is for teens ages 14-18 and equips teens with the necessary skills to support a friend or classmate through a mental health or substance use challenge and better cope with a mental health challenge themselves.

The wellness groups are important to support and equip the youth for themselves while Mental Health First Aid educates and equips the adults to support the youth or peer-to-peer support. As the goals of the programs are to equip youth and local community members to effectively move through challenges and promote a sense of positive well-being, some look at Youth Mental Health First Aid as a bridge to creating more trusted adults for youth, enabling them to thrive.