Project Grant H79SM084759

MERRIMACK VALLEY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAININGS (MV-MHAT) PROJECT - FAMILY SERVICES OF THE MERRIMACK VALLEY PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT THE MERRIMACK VALLEY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING (MV-MHAT) PROJECT, WHICH WILL TRAIN ADULTS WHO REGULARLY INTERACT WITH YOUTH IN SIX MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES (ANDOVER, LAWRENCE, LOWELL, HAVERHILL, METHUEN, AND NORTH ANDOVER) IN THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (YMHFA) CURRICULUM. YMHFA WILL BUILD THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF TRAINEES TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS (MI) AND SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED) AMONGST MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (AGES 12-18), AND SAFELY LINK THEM WITH APPROPRIATE RESOURCES. OVER THE FIVE YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, THE MV-MHAT PROJECT WILL TRAIN 1,560 ADULTS INCLUDING TEACHERS, GUIDANCE STAFF, PARAPROFESSIONALS, SECURITY OFFICERS, COACHES, VOLUNTEERS, MENTORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE LONG TERM GOAL OF THE MV- MHAT PROJECT IS TO MEASURABLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 12-18 WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (MI) OR SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED) WHO ARE CONNECTED TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT. THE SHORT TERM GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF YOUTH-SERVING ADULTS, WHO ARE TRAINED IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FRIST AID AND ARE THEREFORE ABLE TO 1) RECOGNIZE THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF MI AND SES, AND 2) INTERVENE AND CONNECT YOUTH WITH RESOURCES AND TREATMENT. TOWARD THAT END, FSMV WILL ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING MEASUREABLE OBJECTIVES: 1) TRAIN MV-MHAT TO BECOME YMHFA INSTRUCTORS, 2) DELIVER THE YMHFA TRAINING TO 1,560 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE FIVE YEAR PROJECT, 3) PROVIDE WRITTEN INFORMATION TO TRAINEES THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON REFERRAL PROTOCOLS, DIRECTORIES OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY, STATE-WIDE AND NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT. 4) FOLLOW UP WITH ALL FIRST AIDERS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING COMPLETION THROUGH AT LEAST THREE TOUCH POINTS (BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, INDIVIDUAL OUTREACH, SIX-MONTH POST SURVEY), 5) COLLABORATE WITH PROJECT PARTNERS TO CREATE WRITTEN RESOURCE AND REFERRAL POLICIES, AND 6) MAINTAIN COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH AT LEAST THREE ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PROVIDERS TO ASSIST IN RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, COORDINATE SERVICE AVAILABILITY, FACILITATE ACCESS TO TREATMENT, AND SHARE RESOURCES FOR NON-CLINICAL SUPPORT SERVICES.