May: Mental Health Awareness Month
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth are facing significant challenges, but they don’t need to manage alone. To equip parents, leaders, family, and all neighbors, GFS is covering the cost of Mental Health First Aid certifications for adults in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Registration is open until Sunday, May 17th, at Noon.
This training is designed for adults (Ages 18+) who regularly interact with youth (Ages 5-18) of any gender.
- “Over half (52%) of California girls in 12th grade report chronic feelings of sadness and hopelessness…” (UCLA, 2025). 52%
- “…41% of girls express these feelings by the seventh grade” (UCLA, 2025). 41%
- “Nearly 73% of California adolescents with treated self-harm injuries between 2005-2021 were girls” (UC Berkeley, 2025). 73%
2 Hours: Independent Prep Work
4 Hours: Remote Class
May 24th (& another cohort TBD!)
Gain a 3-year certification & lifetime skills
The Youth Mental Health First Aid course was created and is run by the
National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
More information can be found on their website:
Meet Your Instructor
Hey there!
I’m Holly Shafer-Gaad
I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My path into this field began in high school after a close friend experienced a suicide attempt, which deeply impacted me and highlighted the importance of early awareness and intervention. Since then, I have been committed to helping others recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and respond with care and confidence.
Through my training and experience, I aim to equip adults with practical mental health first aid skills so they can better support youth in moments of crisis. Being able to offer this training through Girls Friendly Society is especially meaningful to me, as it allows me to give back to an organization that has played such an important role in my own life while continuing its mission of uplifting and empowering young people.
Research and Evidence
Mental Health
First Aid Works
This program by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is rooted in years of study. Across the country, studies show that MHFA skills effectively address mental health challenges with people around the person trained and for themselves.
This program is possible due to GFS-LA’s Bishop Stevens Fund. The Rt. Rev. William Bertrand Stevens was an avid champion of Girls’ Friendly Society and youth in Southern California. In his honor, GFS-LA uses a portion of the annual budget to support pressing needs of young people.
If you have the means to donate in his honor, your contribution will continue his legacy through our yearly projects.
Connect with GFS
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The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, CA