Assisting Educators with Mental Health First Aid Training

August 2020: Assisting Educators with Mental Health First Aid Training

Schools have seen a rise in mental health-related challenges in their classrooms over the last several years, and the pandemic has caused these challenges to increase even more. Grant-funded training equips teachers to better support their students.

St. Lawrence Catholic School

The Community Foundation, in collaboration with Ball Brothers Foundation, awarded grants to all Delaware County Schools for the cost of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training and stipends for trainees. The training was presented through a partnership between Meridian Health Services and Project Leadership utilizing the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training USA curriculum. This public education program introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help adolescents in crisis. The purpose of this training is not to diagnose mental illness or to provide therapy or counseling. Instead, educators learn how to support youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or emotional crisis; students in need of additional help can then be connected with school counselors and other outside services. More than 175 educators across Delaware County received Mental Health First Aid Training this year. The program equipped educators with tools and skills to support youth in our community during the pandemic and beyond.

Students at St. Lawrence Catholic School will benefit from teachers trained in MHFA.

A key part to the success of this training program has been the Foundation’s relationship with Project Leadership who convenes the Delaware County Comprehensive Counseling Coalition. The Coalition is made up of eight local school districts and includes school counselors, social workers, administrators, and community partners. In 2018, the newly formed Coalition applied and earned a $1.39 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. With support from Lilly Endowment, the Coalition is developing and implementing a county-wide comprehensive counseling system for the more than 12,000 K-12 students in Delaware County. Mental Health First Aid Training has been incorporated into the Coalition’s plan for social emotional learning.

Teachers and students work closely together. MHFA training equips teachers with additional tools to help their students.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID ACTION PLAN

- Assess for risk of suicide or harm

- Listen nonjudgmentally

- Give reassurance and information

- Encourage appropriate professional help

- Encourage self-help and other support strategies

DELAWARE COUNTY TRAINED SCHOOL OFFICIALS

- Burris Laboratory School (7)

- Cowan Community School Corporation (12)

- Daleville Community School Corporation (12)

- Delaware Community School Corporation (24)

- Indiana Academy (3)

- Inspire Academy (3)

- Liberty-Perry School Corporation (16)

- Muncie Community Schools (60)

- St. Lawrence Catholic School (2)

- St. Mary / Pope John Paul II Schools (2)

- Wes-Del Community School Corporation (12)

- Yorktown Community Schools (22)