Stilwell Mental Health Training Awareness Initiative - Stilwell Public School is comprised of three campuses serving 1,350 high-need students in the small town of Stilwell, Oklahoma, the most impoverished township in the state. Annually, Stilwell Public Schools will deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid training, at minimum, to the following unduplicated groups: Educators (40); Parents (50); Students over the age of 16 (120); Youth Development Staff (10); and First Responders (15). Trainings will be held in Stilwell Public Schools facilities, which are centrally located, ADA-compliant, easily accessible, and equipped for trainings with classrooms, presentation equipment, and internet services. Individuals will be trained to identify challenges among youth – the population of focus. Stilwell Public School’s Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) initiative will train 245 individuals annually, reaching 1,225 (unduplicated) residents of Adair County in five years. The overall goal is to strengthen the community-based network of support for youth facing mental health issues. Measurable objectives include: 1. By September 29th annually, at least 245 individuals will complete the Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training, increasing their mental health literacy as demonstrated through pre- and post-assessments. 2. By September 29th annually, at least 95% of participants will demonstrate an increased capacity to respond appropriately to a mental health crisis using the YMHFA 5-Step Action Plan to Protect Life. 3. By September 29th annually, certified YMHFA Instructors will conduct at least two community outreach and engagement events annually, drawing at least 50 participants from multiple community sectors. 4. By September 29th annually, at least eight Public Service Announcements focused on suicide awareness and prevention in a culturally-appropriate format will be released (posters / billboards / radio message / web-vide message). 5. By September 29th annually, SPS will have hosted at least 12 YMHFA training sessions. Stilwell, Oklahoma is “The Most Cherokee Community in the USA.” Native Americans exhibit the second-highest suicide rate by race within Oklahoma. Since 2007, suicide rates in rural areas have steadily surpassed rates in urban areas. The highest rates in metropolitan areas belong to White Non-Hispanics and the highest suicide rates in rural areas belong to Native Americans. Rates are highest among males in both rural and urban settings and overall, 60% of deaths occur by firearm. Contributing factors to suicide include a history of mental illness, lack of social support, hopelessness, stressful events, and having access to a mortal method. Qualitative participants in the 2019 Adair County Tribal Health Assessment frequently discussed the need for increased mental health awareness and treatments within Adair County. Oklahoma currently reports 20 suicides per 100,000, far outpacing the national average of 13 suicides per 100,000. Stilwell Public Schools works diligently to protect youth, providing intentional social emotional learning experiences, universal BASC-2 mental health screenings, and mental health support both within school and through referrals to community-based programs. Despite these efforts, severe budget restrictions result in gaps in services for youth and families.
