May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. The country first observed the date in 1949 to educate the public about mental illness and reduce the stigma surrounding conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Non-Profit To Offer Mental Health First Aid
Here in Montgomery County, the non-profit group, Global Sustainable Partnerships, is launching a new effort to provide Mental Health First Aid Training for teenagers, parents, teachers, first responders, or others who could benefit from the program.
The initiative is called ‘It Takes A Village.’ Kimberly Fogg is the founder and CEO of Global Sustainable Partnerships. She said the new program will “provide people with the tools and resources to help their community, but also help their family members and friends.”
“We’re calling it ‘It Takes A Village’ because we want everybody to be able to get this training,” Fogg added.
Mental Health Struggles
Fogg said people have really struggled over these last few years with their mental health. She said Black and Brown communities are especially hard hit. She said historically these community members have not always had a lot of opportunities to get help from mental health professionals.
Help For Teenagers
That is why she said this program can help. While ‘It Takes A Village’ is a broad initiative, the program has a component geared specifically for teenagers. Students in grades 10-12 or between 15 and 18 years old can sign up for Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA). The training program will help teens develop the knowledge and skills needed to help someone dealing with a mental health crisis.
The course will teach teens the common signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse, and the common signs and symptoms when a crisis is happening especially if a peer is feeling suicidal. The class will explore the impact school violence is having on teens. It also will look at the influence cyberbullying has on a teen’s mental health.
“We want teens to recognize early warning signs, especially if a friend is having a problem, and if a situation gets really bad, then to find a trusted adult. These kids are not diagnosing. They are just noticing, and then contacting a trusted adult,” Fogg said.
“We will give them a list of resources and contact information they can put in their phones. That way they will have resources right at their fingertips,” Fogg added.
Community Outreach
Global Sustainable Partnerships plans to do a lot of community outreach and let groups know about ‘It Takes A Village’. The organization hopes to have 10 to 20 people sign up for a class at a time.
“We’re very proactive. We’re not waiting for people to come and say they need the training. We are out in the community and saying we are offering this,” Fogg said.
People who want more information about Mental Health First Aid should contact Kimberly Fogg at kfogg@gspartnerships.org or call 404-909-2428.
