Mental Health The Focus of Training for Sea Cadets

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 at 08:14

Members of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps in Woodstock will be getting Mental Health First Aid Training from CMHA Oxford. Last night they accepted a cheque from United Way Oxford's Youth United to pay for the training.

WOODSTOCK - The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps in Woodstock is getting Mental Health First Aid training.

The Sea Cadets are partnering with United Way Oxford's Youth United and CMHA Oxford. 15 cadets and 5 adults will take part in the training made possible through funding from United Way Oxford.

Public Relations Petty Officer Second Class Ronnie Hannon explains why they wanted to take part in the training.

"It is going to be about helping other people mentally when they need it, so if one of our cadets see's that someone is mentally unwell, they can help them."

Public Relations Petty Officer Ronnie Hannon suggested this training to Sub Lieutenant Doug Hannon, after losing a friend and fellow cadet to death by suicide. Sub Lieutenant Doug Hannon says this training is really going to help.

"Seems to be a need for it in this day and age, kids aren't coming to adults when they are struggling, they are going to other kids or social media, so we thought it would be a good idea for our cadets or youth to recognize symptoms or even help when they are directly asked."

Hannon adds the course will also offer self help.

"The problem is with something like mental illness or suicide, it's a scary thing but when we have some knowledge or training in it, we can provide some help or get people the help they need. We are not counsellors, we are not training to be counsellors, what we are looking to do is get people the help that they need."

This training will be free to the participants, thanks to the funding from Youth United and the Woodstock Navy League, which is in alignment with the values of the RCSCC Woodstock. The cheque from Youth United was presented to the RCSCC Woodstock last night.