PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Boys and Girls Club recently congratulated staff member Corey Tilley, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Native Connections Project coordinator, for his completion of the Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer certification.
This certification process provided Tilley with crucial knowledge about mental health challenges and disorders in youth and young adults and how to better understand and inform community educators, providers of children’s services and members of the public regarding how to respond to such obstacles.
Tilley worked in the mental health field for 18 years before joining the Presque Isle Boys and Girls Club. He has been an educator/trainer in the community for the past nine years and continues to work with schools, providers, parents and communities in improving relationships between children and adults.
“Healthy relationships build stronger connections to our community, our culture, and our families,” Tilley said.
Tilley, along with 25 others from around the United States, trained with the National Council for Behavioral Health. Participants learned how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics included anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders and eating disorders.
“It’s critical that we offer these skills and resources through our trained BGC youth development professionals and community members to respond and positively impact youth in crisis,” said Fenton Jones, club director.
Tilley will offer training in The County to help create an empowered community providing support to one another in times of mental health problems and mental health crisis. To schedule a training for educators, staff or community, contact Tilley at 207-764-1972, ext. 222.
