Guam is an unincorporated territory of United States, a small island with a diverse multiple ethnic and cultural population of 159,381 people. Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities and the only State mental health facility in the Western Pacific providing mental health services for Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Island and active duty military, retirees, veterans and families. There are glaring gaps, barriers, lack of training and resources in Guams current service structures and programs. Guam has no mobile crisis response unit for the targeted population, forcing many families to access mental health services via Guam Police Department. Guam Police Fire Department directors have requested trainings to guide first responders to resolve mental health crisis in constructive, safe, and humane manner. On Guam, individuals with SMI and SED may be transported to the emergency departments or GBHWC but more likely, they would be arrested, detained and released without services. Due to mental health stigma and language barriers, parents and family members of individuals with SMI and SED are unable to recognize warning signs and symptoms of mental illness and access services too late. Under the leadership of GBHWC, Project Tiningo will provide evidenced based mental health awareness trainings for school personnel, law enforcement, emergency personnel, medical, behavioral providers, military, veterans and parents families of individuals with SED and SMI.
