Making a Difference During Mental Health Awareness Month.
May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, shedding light on the critical issue of mental well-being. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that nearly 50,000 individuals in the U.S. tragically took their own lives last year alone. To grasp the magnitude of this figure, it surpasses the seating capacity of most professional sports stadiums, underscoring the urgency of addressing this public health crisis. Of particular concern is the alarming rise in suicides among our youth. According to the Pennsylvania Youth Survey, one in five youth reported seriously contemplating suicide, while nearly one in three school-age youth admitted to feeling so overwhelmed with sadness or hopelessness that they withdrew from their usual activities for at least two weeks.
Youth mental health and suicide are complex topics with many interrelated factors that come into play. Consequently, there is no single, straightforward solution. While raising general awareness is a crucial first step, it alone is insufficient. However, one impactful measure accessible to all is suicide prevention training. This training serves as the mental health counterpart to physical-first aid training, enhancing awareness of the signs indicating suicidal ideation and equipping individuals with the skills to assist someone in crisis and connect them with necessary support services.
Encouragingly, access to youth mental health services and support is expanding through collaborative efforts in our region. The McDowell Institute at Commonwealth University, in partnership with the Susquehanna Valley United Way (SVUW) and the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), along with other stakeholders, has been instrumental in establishing a regional network of youth suicide prevention instructors. These instructors provide training sessions targeted at schools, youth service organizations, and the general public.
Danielle Empson-Schultz, Director of the McDowell Institute, notes that their “collective cadre of trainers has delivered training to over a thousand professionals and volunteers in the immediate five-county region over the past few years. These sessions aim to educate lay and professional gatekeepers on recognizing warning signs of emotional distress and suicide as well as helpful ways to respond.”
Two critical gatekeeper training programs offered through these collaborations are Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR). These programs, funded by external grants, are provided free of charge.
YMHFA is a comprehensive six-hour course focusing on equipping individuals with the skills to assist those experiencing mental health problems or crises. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy as well as helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. Participants learn a 5-step strategy that includes assessing risk, respectfully listening to and supporting the individual in crisis, and identifying appropriate professional help and other supports. The training also introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs for mental health or substance use problems, engages in experiential activities that build an understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and families and learns about evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies.
QPR, a two-hour educational program, emphasizes three steps: questioning, persuading, and referring individuals at risk for suicide to appropriate resources. The specific objectives of QPR are:
Increasing the ability to recognize someone at risk for suicide.
Building skills to effectively intervene with those at risk.
Developing skills to refer someone at risk to appropriate resources.
According to Adrienne Mael, Executive Director of the SVUW, “Our partnership with the McDowell Institute, as well as other regional partners, is really making a difference. Our shared hope is that as more people in our region experience these types of trainings, we begin to curb the tide of this public health crisis.”
Community-based partnerships offer a promising avenue for further progress in addressing mental health needs in our region. While challenges related to suicide persist, the strides made thus far signify a vital step in our shared responsibility to recognize warning signs of distress and suicide, offering hope and support to those in need.
Tim Knoster, Ed.D
Professor at the McDowell Institute
Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg
Media Contact:
Danielle M. Velkoff
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
e: marketing@svuw.org | t: (570) 360-5009
