Regional Mental Health Awareness Training (RMHAT) Grant - The Regional Mental Health Awareness Training (RMHAT) Grant, housed in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, will serve 256,100 residents across Pontotoc, Seminole, Hughes, Coal, Johnston, Murray, Garvin, McClain, and Pottawatomie Counties. The primarily rural 5,949-square-mile region includes 3 institutions of higher education with approximately 6,650 students. RMHAT will train school personnel, paramedics, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement, veterans, service members, families and caregivers, faith leaders, and other trusted community members to recognize and respond to mental health concerns and de-escalate crises. By September 29, 2029, the project will train at least 900 adults in Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid at 300 annually and 450 teens in teen Mental Health First Aid at 150 annually. It will maintain 12 Mental Health First Aid instructors and 8 teen instructors and certify 2 additional Adult and/or Youth instructors and 2 additional teen instructors. All trainees will receive service-area resource and referral guides, and monthly surveys will track at least 1,050 referrals, or 350 annually. RMHAT will also provide at least 2 educational engagement opportunities annually, establish a leadership committee of at least 8 individual or agency partners by December 30, 2026, meet quarterly, and update the regional needs assessment annually.
