HORIZONS mental health center mental health awareness training grant - HORIZONS mental health center (HORIZONS) in hutchinson, KS will utilize mhat grant to train individuals using the mental health…

HORIZONS mental health center mental health awareness training grant - HORIZONS mental health center (HORIZONS) in hutchinson, KS will utilize mhat grant to train individuals using the mental health first aid program that will include but will not be limited to law enforcement, first responders, EMS, fire, hospital, and county correctional workers. The geographic catchment area is pratt, barber, harper, kingman, and reno counties in kansas. The population of focus for those being trained is the general public. By equipping community providers with the resources to recognize mental health behavior when they respond to calls for aid, they can respond appropriately to an individual with a mental health condition or crisis. The overall goal of horizon's mental health first aid program is to increase the number of people trained in identifying and assisting individuals experiencing mental health disturbance or illnesses. The program's purpose is to ultimately shift agency cultures and encourage first responders to develop relationships and identify opportunities to steer individuals toward support and services before crises occur. The program objectives include increasing the mental health literacy of those trained, create educational material for the population of focus and collaborate with other community organizations to leverage additional resources. The long-term goal of horizon's project is to reduce the number of people with a mental health issues who have contact with first responders from going to jail, the ER or continue to struggle without the opportunity to receive professional services. HORIZONS will be focusing on training law enforcement, first responders, EMS, fire, dispatch staff, and county correctional workers, but will make the course available to other organization that would like to offer mhfa training to their employees.