Plaquemines Parish School System hosts mental health first aid training

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

The Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD) recently launched an initiative to train school leaders and students in mental health first aid (MHFA).

In September, the MHSD (Louisiana’s local governing entity for mental health, addiction and intellectual/developmental disabilities services) facilitated the state’s first MHFA training with the Plaquemines Parish School System. Three 90-minute sessions were conducted each Monday for six consecutive weeks.

“A partnership with the MHSD is instrumental, as it shares our commitment to enhancing the mental health framework within our educational system,” said Plaquemines Parish School System Superintendent Shelley Ritz in a press release. “By educating our school leaders and students on mental health first aid, we are promoting healthy conversations about the importance of mental wellness and ensures that students feel comfortable seeking help when needed.”

According to data from the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five children will face a mental health challenge each year and suicide is the second leading cause of death for students ages 10-14.

At the new training sessions, students are taught to look for warning signs of mental health struggles in their classmates. For example, if a previously friendly and energetic teen suddenly seems sad and withdrawn, that is a warning sign. Sometimes a lack of grooming can also be a sign of depression.

Maria Alexander, program manager at MHSD, said students are then encouraged to ask their classmates about their mental health if they suspect something is wrong. The mental health first aid training also uses role playing scenarios to show them how to be attentive listeners. Students are told to maintain eye contact and avoid taking out their phones.

Another important goal of the training is to destigmatize suffering from mental health issues. Alexander noted how if a person is referred to as “crazy” then it is dehumanizing.

“If you view someone as crazy, you’re less likely to help them,” Alexander said.

NAMI statistics show that 64 percent of teenagers facing mental health challenges do not seek help. If a child thinks they will be viewed as crazy or weak by their peers or family, then they will also be less likely to ask for help with a mental health issue. Alexander said it is important to take the shame out of the equation for people going through a crisis.

“It’s okay to not be okay,” Alexander said.

The training emphasizes that the students’ job is not to fix struggling classmates’ mental health issues on their own, but to help their friends find professional help. Alexander likened it to learning CPR. CPR does not solve everything; a patient who receives successful CPR still needs immediate medical attention. Similarly, once the students identify a classmate undergoing a mental health crisis, that student needs immediate professional care.

Alexander said the initial feedback for the Plaquemines Parish training has been fantastic. The MHSD plans to expand the training sessions to school districts beyond Plaquemines.

“A lot of children are dealing with mental health challenges and are feeling alone,” Alexander said. “It’s important to train as many children as possible.”

For more information about mental health first aid, visit mhsdla.org.

This article originally published in the October 20, 2025 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.