Project Grant H79SM084425

PLUMAS RURAL SERVICES MHAT - THE PLUMAS RURAL SERVICES - MHAT PROJECT PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS GATEKEEPER AND INTERVENTION TRAININGS THROUGHOUT FRONTIER RURAL NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA TO EQUIP PROFESSIONAL AND LAY PEOPLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO IDENTIFY, ASSIST, AND REFER FOR SERVICES ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR BEHAVIORS. THE PROJECT INCLUDES A COORDINATED MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. POPULATIONS TO BE SERVED: THIS PROJECT SERVES THE RESIDENTS OF PLUMAS, SIERRA, LASSEN AND MODOC COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. TRAINING WILL BE OFFERED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION, THOUGH TARGETED OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL BE MADE FOR SPECIFIC SUBPOPULATIONS. THOSE TRAINED WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, SUPPORT, AND SAFELY INTERVENE WITH INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF OR ACTIVELY EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH DISTRESS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED) AND/OR SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), IN THE POPULATIONS OF FOCUS FOR THIS PROJECT: YOUTH, COLLEGE STUDENTS, VETERANS/THEIR FAMILIES, NATIVE SPANISH-SPEAKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE GENERAL POPULATION. STRATEGIES/INTERVENTIONS: THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT SEVERAL COMMUNITY FACILITATORS IN BECOMING CERTIFIED TRAINERS IN THREE EVIDENCE-BASED GATEKEEPER AND/OR INTERVENTION TRAININGS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUICIDE RISK. THE PROJECT WILL EXPAND ITS OUTREACH AND TRAININGS TO A REGIONAL AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE AUDIENCE. THE PROJECT WILL WORK WITH A COLLABORATIVE GROUP TO COORDINATE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND CREATE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO DISTRIBUTE TO PROMOTE THIS EFFORT. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO DECREASE STIGMA AND INCREASE FAMILIARITY WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. GOALS/OBJECTIVES: PRIMARY PROJECT GOALS ARE TO: (1) TRAIN THOSE WHO INTERACT WITH VULNERABLE OR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS AND SAFELY AND APPROPRIATELY INTERVENE; AND (2) EDUCATE NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: (1) CERTIFY 2 LOCAL FACILITATORS AS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID-ADULT TRAINERS, 1 AS A MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID-TEEN TRAINER, AND 1 AS A MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID-YOUTH TRAINER BY 2026; (2) CERTIFY 2 LOCAL FACILITATORS AS ASIST TRAINERS AND 1 AS A SAFETALK TRAINER BY 2026; (3) BRING 2 CIT/5150 TRAININGS TO THE REGION BY 2024; AND (4) TRAIN 500 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS IN MHFA, CIT, SAFETALK, AND/OR ASIST (150 UNDUPLICATED PER YEAR); (5) COORDINATE OUTREACH, AWARENESS, AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH THE MHAT WORKING GROUP; (6) CREATE MONTHLY VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS TO CONDUCT OUTREACH, PROMOTE AWARENESS, AND FACILITATE DISCUSSION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH; AND (7) BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CREATE COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE LISTS AND REFERRAL PROTOCOLS FOR SIERRA, LASSEN AND PLUMAS COUNTIES THAT CAN BE DISTRIBUTED AT TRAININGS.