Context:

This course was designed using the ADDIE instructional design framework to ensure the training aligned with Mentor Vermont’s learning goals and the needs of volunteer mentors.Volunteer mentors play an important role in supporting youth development, but many feel unprepared to recognize signs of emotional distress, respond appropriately, or apply trauma-informed practices in mentoring relationships. This lack of confidence can lead to uncertainty about how to support mentees effectively.To address this gap, Mentor Vermont developed the Youth Wellness and Mental Health e-learning course using Articulate Storyline. The course provides mentors with practical strategies to better support youth well-being.

 

Challenges: 

Designing this course required addressing several key challenges:

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• Sensitive subject matter: Youth mental health is a complex and potentially sensitive topic. The course needed to present information in a supportive, trauma-informed, and non-triggering way.

• Diverse mentor experience levels: Mentors vary widely in their backgrounds and familiarity with youth mental health, so the training needed to be accessible for beginners while still meaningful for experienced mentors.

• Volunteer learners with limited time: Because mentors are volunteers, the course needed to be concise, engaging, and flexible enough to complete independently.

• Practical application: The training needed to move beyond theory and provide clear, actionable strategies mentors could apply in real mentoring conversations.

 

To address these challenges, the course incorporated scenario-based learning, reflective questions, and practical strategies that mentors could easily apply in real-world situations.

 

Results:

Released in 2026, the module is part of Mentor Vermont’s Youth Mental Health & Well-Being training. The Youth Wellness and Mental Health e-learning course provides Mentor Vermont mentors with foundational knowledge and practical tools to support youth well-being. An Instructor-Led Training was also created to support in person training. 

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As a result of the training, mentors are better prepared to:

• Recognize signs of emotional distress in youth

• Respond with empathy and trauma-informed communication

• Build trust and safety in mentoring relationships

• Maintain healthy boundaries while offering support

• Identify when to seek additional help from program coordinators or professionals

 

By strengthening mentor confidence and preparedness, the course supports more effective mentoring relationships and improved youth well-being outcomes within Mentor Vermont’s programs.