Implementing Mental Health Awareness Training in Short Creek, A rural Arizona and Utah Bordertown Community in Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah. - Creek Valley Health Clinic will implement Mental Health Awareness Training in Short Creek, the bi-state rural community of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, where residents face geographic isolation and no local emergency department or crisis stabilization facility. CVHC serves approximately 4,400 residents annually; 42% are under age 18 and 82% live at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. The project will train adults most likely to encounter someone in crisis, including teachers, first responders, faith and community leaders, veterans, and parents, to recognize signs of mental illness, respond safely, and connect people to care. Using Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Question, Persuade, Refer, and Counseling on Access to Lethal Means, the project will train 75 participants in Year 1 and 150 in each of Years 2 and 3, for 375 total; at least 80% will demonstrate increased knowledge. CVHC will establish a formal referral pathway with Red Winter Psychiatry and link 50 individuals to mental health support in Year 1 and 300 cumulatively over the 3-year project, with services provided by CVHC’s integrated behavioral health team and its psychiatric partner. The project will also expand community awareness, strengthen crisis-response partnerships, and use data to monitor and improve implementation.
