The Excelsior Springs community center hosted its first Youth Mental Health First Aid training course for adults to help break down communication barriers surrounding a mental health crisis. Kyria Hood, Youth and Family Coordinator and certified youth mental health first aid instructor, hosted the first-ever class, bringing her expertise. “My passion for helping families through both enjoyable and difficult times has led me to pursue various trainings,” she said. “I am a certified parent instructor, certified youth mental health first aid instructor, and certified in adult mental health first aid.” Hood described the many opportunities she has explored through lived experiences and feels equipped to help local residents who may be struggling with a crisis or non-crisis mental health situation, as well as directing people to appropriate resources. The youth mental health first aid training class, according to Hood, was designed to teach adults about the signs and symptoms of…