Alex leads a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for the NYC Mayor’s Office

Last month, Alex was selected by the New York City Mayor’s Office to join a team of trainers from the Department of Health and Human Hygiene to train over 2,000 Department of Education employees. While courses were led across the city, Alex and his DOHMH co-facilitator Esther trained a diverse group of administrators, teachers, and support staff at The High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan.

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 addiction-related challenge or is in crisis.

Alex became certified as a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor earlier this year, after becoming a nationally certified Adult MHFA Instructor last year. He wrote about that transformative experience for Very Smart Brothas.

Previously, he led courses for members of the Adhikaar Community Center in Queens and for research and outreach staff from the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital.