Friday, April 26, 2024
4/26/2024
The Mental Health Awareness Training - Public Safety program will provide Mental Health First Aid Training to public safety professionals in Connecticut. Public safety professionals include local police, state police, firefighters and other first responders, college campus security and student conduct professionals. These professionals have a high incidence of contact with individuals who may have mental health disorders. Wheeler Clinic, a leading behavioral health and prevention provider in Connecticut, will provide 85 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainings to 1,700 public safety professionals. Each training will average 20 participants. (Year 1: 20 trainings for 400 people, Year 2: 34 trainings for 680 people, and Year 3: 31 trainings for 620 people.) Wheeler is working with state-wide organizations, including the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system to reach these professionals across the state. From 2012 to 2016, 20 of the 26 (76.9%) Community Health Needs Assessments completed by Connecticut hospitals indicated mental health as a priority health need. The targeted professionals frequently encounter people who may have a mental health crisis and they are not typically trained in mental health awareness or de-escalation techniques. Law enforcement personnel and first responders are at greater risk than the general public of experiencing mental health challenges in their lifetime due to constant exposure to traumatic experiences. Participants will learn concrete information about specific mental health disorders and to use the ALGEE method for providing aid: Assess for risk of suicide or harm, Listen nonjudgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help, and Encourage self-help and other support strategies. The MHAT-PS program will utilize the Adult MHFA curriculum which includes an opioid overdose education component and will also utilize the MHFA for Public Safety module and the MHFA Higher Education module as appropriate for the training audience. The MHFA Public Safety module is specifically designed for first responders and addresses recognizing mental health challenges in other public safety staff. The MHAT-PS program will increase (1) the number of public safety professionals who are trained in MHFA; (2) the ability of public safety professionals to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental disorders when responding to calls in the community and when they are exhibited by other public safety staff; and (3) the number of individuals referred for behavioral health and support services made by public safety professionals. Wheeler anticipates 1,275 individuals will be referred for behavioral health services or supports as a result of this grant.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
