Transformation

Mental Health First Aid expanding in Missouri; state to test a new course targeting adults who work with youth

Mental Health First Aid is taking shape in Missouri, five years after it was introduced in the state through the efforts of staff of the Mental Health Transformation grant, awarded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The five-year grant will wrap up by March, and sustaining Mental Health First Aid is a priority.

“Our main focus with Mental Health First Aid has been twofold,” said Benton Goon, co-chair of the state Transformation Working Group and Missouri’s representative on the national Mental Health First Aid USA planning team. “We wanted to train enough instructors so that the course is available in all areas of the state, and we wanted to initially target training to groups who are most receptive and where it could be most useful.”

Those objectives seem to have paid off. The state now has 183 certified instructors of Mental Health First Aid statewide, and – in addition to mental health agencies – higher education agencies and faith-based organizations have become partners in the effort to spread the word.

National Council Selects 10 Groups for New Co-Occurring Disorder Learning Community

Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare of Missouri selected to participate.

Washington, DC, (November 8, 2011)—The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, in partnership with MTM Services and Hazelden, has selected 10 community behavioral health organizations to participate in its new Co-Occurring Disorder Learning Community. This initiative will enable participating organizations to enhance their ability to provide effective integrated and comprehensive care to individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

TWG releases White Paper on Evidence-Based Practices

The final report of the Evidence-Based Practice workgroup chartered by the Transformation Working Group is now available on line.The report, submitted to the TWG in the form of a white paper, provides a definition of Evidence Based Practice derived from scientific method, and a suggested  "ruler" for determining whether particular mental health services are evidence based.

The TWG encourages state departments that offer mental health services to use the report to strengthen their evidence-based principles, practices, and policies. For additional information on the workgroup's objectives and activities, go to http://missouridmh.typepad.com/transformation/evidence-based-practices-group.html.

Colleges Embrace Mental Health Training

Washington, Aug. 25—An innovative mental health program is helping stem the rising tide of mental health issues among students at colleges and universities in the U.S. With a recent survey finding the emotional health of incoming freshmen at a record low, colleges are offering Mental Health First Aid to teach students, staff and faculty how to help someone with the signs and symptoms of mental illness or in a mental health crisis.

“It’s well documented that over the past 10 to 15 years, the number and severity of mental health issues on campuses has increased,” says Kim Leisey, PhD, associate vice president for student affairs at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), one of 10 colleges in Maryland that offers the program. “Given that most counseling centers are not staffed to do a lot of outreach, Mental Health First Aid is playing an increasingly larger role to help manage anxiety about mental health issues on campuses.”

 
The evidence-based training uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis, select interventions, and provide initial help. The training also addresses the risk factors and warning signs of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders.
 

Missouri trains more Mental Health First Aid instructors

Missouri added to its number of Mental Health First Aid instructors in July and August, as a total 35 students were certified as instructors during the two five-day training sessions, held in Jefferson City. The trainings, which added 32 Missouri instructors and three from Chicago, brings Missouri's total to 155.

Trainers Christy Hutton (bottom left) and Ginny Weil (bottom right) welcomed the class of 20 newly graduated Mental Health First Aid instructors in July.

 

Trainers Jermine Alberty (bottom left) and Sharon Thomas-Parks (bottom right) trained 18 new Mental Health First Aid instructors in August.

Mental Health First Aid featured at national summit

Missouri's Mental Health First Aid initiative shared the spotlight with its national partners during the second annual National Summit for Mental Health First Aid Instructors May 1 in San Diego. Benton Goon, Missouri's representative on the National MHFA USA collaborative, reminded participants of the challenges of "living in the house of MHFA that we are building." Dottie Mullikin, Missouri's MHFA director, served on a panel sharing practical information on how to obtain funding for MHFA.

The state of Missouri, the state of Maryland, and the National Council for Community Behavioral Health Care are the founding partners of Mental Health First Aid USA.

 

TWG accepts Evidence Based Practice Workgroup final report

During its April 22 meeting, Missouri's Mental Health Transformation Working Group (TWG) accepted and endorsed the Evidence-Based Practice workgroup final report, authorizing its distribution and encouraging state departments that offer mental health services to use the report to strengthen their evidence-based principles, practices and policies. 

The report, submitted to the TWG in the form of a white paper, provides a definition of Evidence Based Practice derived from scientific method, and a suggested  "ruler" for determining whether particular mental health services are evidence based.

National Council asks public to vote on Mental Health First Aid video finalists

The National Council for Community Behavioral Health Care is asking the public to vote for the best Mental Health First Aid program in the country. National Council officials have chosen four video entries to its Mental Health First Aid USA Best Community Impact Award challenge, designed to discover the variety of ways in which Mental Health First Aid has impacted communities nationwide. The finalists were selected from a number of entries by individual programs. The top vote-getter will be presented with the Community Impact Award and a prize of $5,000 to support the winning program.

To make a selection, potential voters must go to the National Council's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mental-Health-First-Aid-USA/262722766319?sk=app_4949752878. Public voting began April 7 and is open until Friday, April 15. The winner will be announced on April 18 and the award will be presented at the Mental Health First Aid USA Instructor Summit on May 1, 2011.

Mental Health First Aid Instructor training opportunities scheduled

2011 brings four opportunities for individuals to be trained as Mental Health First Aid instructors in Missouri. The five-day trainings have been scheduled for March 28-April 1 in Springfield, April 11-15 in Jefferson City, and July 11-15 in Jefferson City. A fourth course is being planned for September in St. Louis, with the dates to be announced.

The training provides certification to teach the 12-hour Mental Health First Aid course in any area of the United States. The session is open to anyone with the skill and desire to effectively teach the class. "Our hope is to spread Mental Health First Aid across the state

Mental Health First Aid instructors receive course update during seminar

A large group of our state's Mental Health First Aid instructors came together in Jefferson City Feb. 16 and 17 to receive updates on the status of the Mental Health First Aid initiative in Missouri. Instructors from across the state -- some of whom have been teaching the course since the program's inception in Missouri in 2008 -- attended the seminar to learn new ways of promoting the course, to learn the importance of the course for reduction in stigma of mental illnesses, and to share their experiences and stories of success.