** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OUR YOUTH ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND THE EFFECTS CAN BE SEEN IN SCHOOLS. MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OFTEN LEAD TO SUBSTANCE USE AND ALTHOUGH THE RATES OF MENALTH HEALTH CHALLENGES ARE SIMILAR BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN YOUTH, THERE IS A HIGHER RATE OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG RURAL YOUTH. YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR ADULTS WHO WORK WITH YOUTH SO THAT THEY CAN RECOGNIZE THE EARLY SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND SUBSTANCE USE AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY AS NON-MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE AND EMPOWERS THEM TO HELP THEIR FRIENDS WITHOUT PUTTING THEMSELVES INTO POTENTIALLY HARMFUL SITUATIONS.THIS PROJECT IMPLEMENTS TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID IN 5 RURAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLS AND EVALUATES THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS ON HOW STUDENTS VIEW MENTAL HEALTH AND TREAT EACH OTHER. THE EVALUATION WILL INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL METRICS THAT ARE LINKED TO MENTAL HEALTH SUCH AS BULLYING, ATTENDANCE, GRADES, AND GRADUATION RATES. EACH HIGH SCHOOL IN THE PROJECT WILL HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF METRICS BASED ON THEIR OWN LOCAL CONCERNS AND THE DATA THEY ARE ALREADY COLLECTING. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IN RURAL AREAS, WHERE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ARE SCARCE, EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION THROUGH THE TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE CAN LEAD TO BETTER EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND DECREASED SUBSTANCE USE.