Community synergy aware project - the community synergy aware (CS-aware) project will increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma and increase responsiveness and referrals for mental health…

Community synergy aware project - the community synergy aware (CS-aware) project will increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma and increase responsiveness and referrals for mental health issues in children and adolescents in rockland county, new york, the evidence-based youth mental health first aid (ymhfa) program will be implemented virtually as well as in-person. Those who work with youth will be trained as ymhfa instructors and they in turn will train individuals who interact with children and youth throughout the county as "first aiders." instructors to be trained will include law enforcement, first responders, coaches, school personnel, spanish speaking professionals, and counselors, culminating in 29 certified local instructors trained. Instructors will then formally train and train 350 individuals who interact with children and youth in year one of the project, 400 persons in year two, 450 persons in year three, 500 persons in year four and 500 persons in year five for a total of 2,200 individuals trained to assist youth, who are experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis, ages 12 to 18, the target population. Committed partners in this project include the rockland county department of mental health, north rockland central school district, clarkstown central school district, clarkstown community learning center, rockland teacher center, village of haverstraw haverstraw center, police athletic league. This project will serve a diverse community; rockland county is made up of racially, ethnically and culturally mixed population. Demographically, the county has a large hispanic and latino nonwhite population facing language barriers, socioeconomic uncertainty and high risk for substance abuse involvement. Adolescence is the peak age of onset for mental illness and early onset of mental illness is a significant predictor for future episodes. Yet, adolescents and young adults are less likely than adults to seek or receive treatment for a mental illness. This project will address this critical need within the community.