Mental Health Literacy

Use the link above to express interest in free YMHFA trainings for MVPS staff.

This initiative supports MVPS Strategic Priority Areas as follows:

SO1: Build a system of teaching and leading that reflects research-based, effective and collaborative practices.

SO2: Increase the performance of all students through systemic and consistent academic and social emotional interventions.

How: Combining adult and youth mental health literacy in schools promotes school environments where students view adults as helpful and caring, thus improving school climates for learning. More positive school climate increases attendance rates and academic achieve, promotes student mental and physical wellbeing and teacher retention, and reduces violence in schools (Council for Children's Rights, 2019). Students who completed the teen MHFA curriculum expressed more positive school climates related to relationships with peers in school. Staff and adults completing a YMHFA training reported significantly higher levels of confidence, intentions to intervene, preparedness, and mental health literacy. Both Youth Mental Health

SO4: Look for opportunities to use resources more effectively and slow the growth of school budgets.

How: More efficient supports and access to school services may help mitigate growing budgets related to funding referrals to MH services, and additional costs to society in the long run (healthwise.org, 2019). Youth Mental Health First Aid is an effective, evidence-based approach to MH promotion, prevention, and intervention with youth. YMHFA is a mental health literacy and gate keeping program for adults who work with youth. MH literacy means "knowing when and where to seek help and developing competencies designed to improve one's mental health care and self-management capabilities” (Kutcher et al., 2016a, P154, 2016b).

YMHFA-Flyer.pdf
Model for tMHFA Implementation.pdf
teen MHFA one-pager.pdf

PROJECT BENCHMARKS:

  • 10% MVRHS staff trained in YMHFA by Spring 2021

  • Train 3-6 MVRHS teachers in teen MHFA curriculum by July 2021

  • Pilot teen MHFA curriculum with 10th grade in FY22

  • 85% MVPS staff trained in YMHFA by 2024

  • MVPS parents (grades 5-12) trained in YMHFA (80 by FY22, 160 by FY23, 400 by FY24) (n = 660)

  • All 10-12th grade students have the opportunity to complete teen MHFA curriculum by 2024

      • 195 in 10th grade for FY22

      • 275 in 10th and 12th grade for FY23

      • 190 in 10th grade for FY24

  • Each of MVPS' six schools has a unique I-CARE support system and mobile I-CARE tele-therapy centers that support youth access to mental health services by FY24.

MEASURES FOR PROGRESS MONITORING:

  • YMHFA pre/post surveys, long-term follow-up

  • Annual school climate survey (EDSCLS)

  • teen MHFA pre/post surveys, long-term follow-up

  • Rates of enrollment and completion of trainings

  • Focus groups with students, staff, and parents

  • MHFA training evaluations

  • Frequency of school counselor referrals and student access

  • I-CARE quality improvement cycles (Plan-Do-Study-Act)

STATEMENTS OF NEED:

  • Based on MVPS student, staff, parent, and community feedback, MedStar (2018) recommendations are to

(a) initiate a strategic informational campaign that reduces MH stigma and promotes awareness and access,

(b) improve school climates through student connectedness and safety, and

(c) support school staff mental health literacy through evidence-based professional development to engage in early identification of students experiencing MH challenges.

  • 93% of MVPS staff who completed the Staff Reopening Survey (August 2020), who responded to questions about professional development topics, expressed interest in professional development for mental health literacy (n = 270). There is also high levels of staff interest in PD for related topics: talking to students about difficult topics (94%, n = 269), trauma-responsiveness (93%, n = 270), and referring students to mental health supports (89%, n = 270).

  • Youth Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based gate keeper training sponsored by the National Council for Behavioral Health that supports increased mental health literacy of adults who work, live, and interact with youth. YMHFA provides adults with knowledge and skills to support youth who might be experiencing mental health challenges. Evidence from YMHFA research shows that many adults who complete the training report

(a) better relationships with youth in schools,

(b) stronger feelings of efficacy for identifying symptoms of youth mental health illness/risk and supporting youth access to MH supports, as well as

(c) lower stigmatizing thoughts of youth mental illness.

  • MVPS 2019 school climate survey (EDSCLS) results show that variability exists across schools and grades specific to how students report feelings of supportive environments for mental health, emotional safety and bullying, and engaging in positive relationships at school. Most results show these areas are "least favorable" as grade levels increase (7-12).

INTENDED OUTCOMES:

  • A strong adult support system exists for MVPS students where adults feel knowledgable and confident with mental health literacy skills, and where students feel supported and cared about by adults in their close systems.

  • MVPS staff, faculty, and administrators; parents, caregivers, and guardians; and school-community partners exhibit mental health literacy as related to completing Youth Mental First Aid trainings.

  • MVPS students have knowledge of how and the agency to support one another using a peer-to-peer model to promote positive mental health, identify different symptoms of mental health struggles, and destigmatize youth mental health challenges.

  • Youth and adult MVPS community members report positive relationships and safe emotional environments in schools.


teen MHFA MODULES & TOPICS


What are mental health challenges?

  • Different types and prevalence in teens

  • Factors that increase likelihood of teens developing MH challenges


What is appropriate help?

  • Impact of mental health challenges on teens

  • More on trauma

  • Recovery and resilience


Helping a friend in crisis-Suicide

  • Mental Health First Aid: Look, Ask, Listen, Connect to an adult, Your friendship is important

  • “You Matter” example of applying MHFA to a real life scenario where a teen is contemplating suicide


Helping a friend in crisis

  • Panic Attack

  • Self-injury

  • Trauma

  • Bullying

  • Violence

  • Practice-helping Jaden


Helping a friend in a substance use crisis and helping a friend who might be developing a mental health challenge

  • Substance use crisis—recovery position for overdose

  • Practice-helping Carlos

  • Importance of acting early using the MHFA action plan

  • Practice MHFA in small groups


Recovery and resilience

  • Looking at how the scenario teens in the course include optimism, hope, and recovery into their stories and how emphasizing recovery/resilience is key to being a MHFAider


—-Graduation Celebration—