The Lutheran Family Services Mental Health Awareness Training (LFS MHAT) project will initially offer the evidence-based Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program training to the organization’s 300+ staff at 18 locations across Nebraska. Trained staff will then be equipped to offer the program as a supplement to children and families served through LFS’ multiple health & wellness and community-based services, which connect with approximately 12,000 people annually. Additionally, LFS will provide MHFA in faith-based settings using a team ministry approach that consists of trained lay people working together to provide mental health and substance misuse awareness, education, and recovery support for youth and adults served by congregations. LFS will serve adults and families from across the State, with a particular focus on veterans, immigrants, and seniors within the communities.
The project aims to serve 250 over the five years of the project, with the goals of (1) increasing congregational and/or community support and capacity for mental health services, (2) increasing mental health awareness trainings for families, communities and congregations, and (3) increasing access to Lutheran Family Services’ behavioral health services. An additional 250 people across Nebraska who could teach MHFA, and the number of people those trainers can reach, and help will be create significant outcomes.
