Project Grant H79SM084623

TUG HILL SEAWAY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM - THE TUG HILL SEAWAY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM WILL AIM TO ENHANCE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ITS LOCAL POPULATIONS BY PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND LINKAGE RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL ILLNESS. NORTHERN NY FACES CHALLENGES COMMON TO RURAL AREAS, INCLUDING INCREASED POVERTY AND LIMITED ACCESS TO CARE. WHILE MUCH OF THE SERVICE REGION DOES HAVE A CHARACTERISTICALLY HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF OLDER ADULTS, THIS IS CONTRASTED BY THE DISTINCTIVE AND PARTICULARLY YOUNG POPULATIONS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS COLLEGE STUDENTS. FDRHPO WILL COLLABORATE WITH EXISTING PARTNERING PROVIDERS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS TRAINED TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS IN THEIR SERVICE POPULATIONS, EMPLOY CRISIS DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES, AND PROVIDE CRITICAL LINKAGE SUPPORT TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: (1) ADULT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (AMHFA) TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SERVE, SUPPORT, AND INTERACT WITH VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE CIVILIAN COMMUNITY WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES (SMI) AND/OR SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED); (2) YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (YMHFA) TRAINING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SERVE, SUPPORT, AND INTERACT WITH SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN IMPACTED BY SMI AND/OR SED; AND (3) CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING (CIT) OR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID-PUBLIC SAFETY (MHFA-PS) TRAININGS ENABLING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SMI AND/OR SED. TRAINEES WHO INTERACT, SERVE, AND SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE TUG HILL SEAWAY REGION WILL BE THE PROJECT'S PRIMARY TARGET GROUP. REGIONAL POPULATIONS OF FOCUS FOR WHICH THE PROJECT WILL BE DEVELOPED ARE ADULTS AND YOUTHS WITH SED AND/OR SMI, ESPECIALLY VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS, FARMERS, AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN POVERTY. TRAININGS WILL BE DELIVERED IN JEFFERSON, LEWIS, AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTIES IN NORTHERN NY. THE FOLLOWING TRAINING OBJECTIVES WILL BE CONDUCTED PER GRANT YEAR: (1) 100 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED ACROSS 4 YMHFA SESSIONS; (2) 70 INDIVIDUALS TRAINED ACROSS 3 AMHFA SESSIONS; (3) 20 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TRAINED IN 1 ANNUAL CIT AND/OR MHFA-PS SESSION; (4) DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC DIRECTORY OF REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; AND (5) IMPLEMENTATION OF AT LEAST 2 MARKETING CAMPAIGNS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND REDUCE THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS USING CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE MATERIALS. TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUSTAINABILITY, FDRHPO INTENDS TO SEEK AND IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING AND LEVERAGE EXISTING GRANT FUNDS, WHERE FEASIBLE AND APPROPRIATE.