Building California's Community Safety Net: Mental Health Awareness, Suicide Prevention, and Substance Use Response Training - Cypress Resilience Project will implement Building California’s Community Safety Net: Mental Health Awareness, Suicide Prevention, and Substance Use Response Training statewide through its network of 446 organizations across 41 counties and all 52 congressional districts. The project will train nonprofit staff, educators and school personnel, law enforcement, youth-serving professionals, faith leaders, healthcare workers, caregivers, volunteers, and other trusted community members to recognize mental health and substance use challenges, respond safely during crises, and connect individuals to care and supports. Training will include Mental Health First Aid, Question, Persuade, Refer Gatekeeper Training, Substance Use First Aid, and Awareness, Interaction, Direction. Cypress will develop written and electronic resources, strengthen referral pathways, promote behavioral health and crisis resources, and maintain partnerships with licensed providers. This capacity-building project will not provide direct clinical services; children, youth, adults, families, older adults, veterans, and others will benefit through trained community members and stronger linkages to care. The project will train 3,600 participants; 80% of surveyed participants will report improved knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to prevention and mental health promotion, and 75% will report increased confidence connecting individuals to professional, peer, or community-based supports.
