Since 2008, The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has worked to empower people with early-intervention training for mental health and substance use crises through their Mental Health First Aid initiative. Last month, they documented five million trainees had completed their programs across the country. Simultaneously, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced new grant funding for three federal programs:
- Project AWARE
- Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT)
- Trauma-Informed Support Services (TISS)
The financial support offered by these grants will increase access to individuals seeking to gain the skills and expertise needed to offer vital first response to health emergencies.
“This moment reflects the growing recognition that conversations about mental health support belong in every community. When people have the skills to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges, they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their families, workplaces and communities.”
—Tramaine EL-Amin, vice president of Mental Health First Aid
Aims and Effectiveness of Each Program
PROJECT AWARE
Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) is focused on building sustainable mental health infrastructure on school campuses by partnering with:
- Education leaders
- Mental healthcare providers
- Community organizations
- Students and their families
The funding opportunities for this upcoming fiscal year totaled over $55.7 million, the largest investment pool of the three. SAMHSA estimates that Project AWARE has helped train approximately 1.4 million Americans ranging from professional first responders and school staff to individual community members in evidence-based mental healthcare since their founding in 2013.
Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT)
The MHAT program offers knowledge and resources to mental health professionals and the general public to help them safely manage the care for someone experiencing mental health or substance use issues, as well as referring patients to proper services. Between 2018 and 2023, SAMHSA statistics showed than more than 1.2 million people received their support, including:
- 244,680 members of the mental health and substance use workforce
- 487,459 non-professionals trained in prevention and mental health promotiontotal
- 543,546 people being redirected towards necessary healthcare services
The grants offered for MHAT recipients this coming fiscal year total more than $22 million.
Trauma-Informed Support Services (TISS)
The TISS program, which has offered approximately $5.9 million in grants for the next fiscal year, also focuses on mental healthcare in schools. These funds are earmarked towards developing innovative campaigns and partnering with trauma support systems, and have led to over 40,000 people receiving training or early intervention services:
- 34,678 students and caregivers receiving mental health screenings
- 2,965 students and caregivers referred to necessary services
- 5,291 school staff members, administrators, and students receiving response training
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing continues to monitor and push for further investment through SAMHSA and other avenues, and will provide free assistance to organizations when future such grant opportunities arise. Funding stipulations have been put in place to support numerous organizations under each programming grant, rather than favor one institution.
Source: https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/news/five-million-people-trained-in-mental-health-first-aid/