Project and Populations to be Served: The Mental Health First Aid Community Collaborative is a comprehensive mental health training collaboration proposed by Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) targeting Lancaster County youth. LGH proposes to work with community-based mental health and healthcare service providers, school districts, first responders, and family members/caregivers in Lancaster County, PA to recognize and address mental illness, improve pathways to care, and reduce stigma. Mental illness leads to increased risk of chronic disease and substance abuse, is a leading factor in emergency room visits, and is a common diagnosis among people experiencing homelessness, incarcerated individuals, and youth involved in the juvenile justice system. According to the most recent Pennsylvania Youth Survey for Lancaster County (2019), the percentage of students who felt depressed or sad most days during the past 12 months increased over the prior value and is part of an upward trend. High percentages of students in our partner school districts also reported seriously considering attempting suicide and thinking they were “no good at all.” Despite the high volume and associated risky decisions/behaviors by youth experiencing depressive symptoms, less than half of youth who need mental health services receive help.
Strategies: Over five years, the project will provide proven, evidence-based Adult, Youth, and Teen Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA, YMHFA, tMHFA) trainings for 4,073 10th grade students, school staff, law enforcement, community members and family members/caregivers in Hempfield School District, the School District of Lancaster, Pequea Valley School District, and Elizabethtown School District. Each of these trainings will aim to support youth directly or indirectly through community support.
Goals and Measurement Objectives: By the end of the project, 90% of 10th graders in these school districts (3,323 students), will receive tMHFA training. 420 school personnel will receive YMHFA training. An anticipated 150 local law enforcement officers (50%) in the four targeted school districts will receive AMHFA training. The project will also provide at least 4 trainings per year for family members/caregivers and community members.
Number to be Served Annually/Total: The project will provide training for 733 people in year 1, 740 people in year 2, 830 people in year 3, 750 people in year 4, and 1020 people in year 5; a total of 4073 people.