Since its implementation, the initiative has been providing desperately needed training resources and delivering eight-hour evidence-based mental health training sessions to no fewer than 250 individuals annually. The goal is to build an effective cohort of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) responders in the community.
The MHFA trainings are offered at no cost to participants. Since 2022, the BLEC has trained over 800 persons in either Adult MHFA or Youth MHFA.
“We are very proud that our Mental Health Awareness Training Initiative is making a difference in the various communities we serve,” said Dr. Cindye Richburg Cotton, BLEC executive director. “We are also thankful for a dedicated and committed staff who is ensuring the goals of the initiative are achieved.”
Reverend Dr. Jeffrey A. Howard is the project coordinator for the initiative and takes his responsibilities seriously.
“It is critically important that the public is aware of mental health issues and the potential challenges faced by families impacted by mental
illness,” Dr. Howard said.
The statistics are alarming. Suicide rates in South Carolina increased 19 percent between 2009 and 2018, growing from 13.4 to 15.9 deaths per 100,000 population. To address these figures, the initiative has a threeprong approach.
First, it provides mental health first aid for adults with the skills to identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance use issues among other adults. Participants learn how to recognize early signs of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions, and how to provide initial support.
Second, youth mental health first aid equips adults, including parents, teachers, and caregivers, with the tools to support adolescents aged 12-18 facing mental health challenges or crises. Participants learn about common mental health issues in youth, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, along with typical adolescent development. The training emphasizes a 5-step action plan for assisting young people in crisis and non-crisis situations.
Third, mental health first
aid for teens teaches teens in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18, the skills to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use issues among their peers. The training
is designed to empower teens with awareness and actionable steps, conducted in-person through six 45-minute sessions or three 90-minute sessions.
For more information about the mental health first aid trainings, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Howard at 803- 744-1961 (Office) or 803- 445-7548 (Mobile) or by email at jhoward@brookland.cc.
