Youth Mental Health First Aid: Implementation Lessons from Pennsylvania

In the fall of 2013, the Brandywine Health Foundation and key area leaders learned from the Pennsylvania Youth Survey about the high rates of depression among Coatesville-area youth compared with youth in the remainder of Chester County and the state as a whole. In addition, children in the Coatesville Area School District (CASD) were disproportionately affected by neglect, abuse, delinquency issues, and low graduation rates. These statistics demonstrated not only the need for a strong behavioral health system of care, but also the critical importance of prevention and early intervention for the ongoing success of Coatesville youth.