Newly launched project aims at breaking down stigmas of mental health issues
Montana Standard (Butte)Jan 30, 2015
Linking services and building safer schools are other goals of the
"Our goal is to build a bridge between school and home services and mental health needs for kids," said
She is one of four new case managers headquartered at the Butte High Career Center,
As
"By empowering the community, we've learned how to reach out," said case manager
Project Aware case managers will serve as a liaison among schools, parents and community services across the board and at all levels in the school district.
They will train school staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid, a suicide prevention program aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues, warning signs and early-childhood trauma.
They will visit all schools regularly, make bi-monthly home visits, assist in Olweus Bullying Prevention Program training and help create treatment plans for identified students who need extra support.
"We don't diagnose anyone," Reynolds told the coalition. "We're trained to recognize symptoms and make referrals."
Case manager
Starting next fall, the Signs of Suicide, or SOS, program will help middle- and high-school students understand the relationship between depression and suicide and teach peer intervention when a friend is at-risk.
With the coalition's help, Project Aware can touch all segments of the community.
For
"Connections are the most important part of prevention," said Richards. "I think they have a lot of good ideas, but execution is key."
Richards self-identifies as "a survivor of family suicide and attempt." She shared thoughtful insight during the Project Aware unveiling.
"I've been there," Richards said, in light of the cluster of four teen suicides a year ago that instigated the formation of the coalition.
Having previously worked at
On campus, Richards keeps a close eye on such issues affecting college students -- especially in the wake of the on-campus suicide on Monday of a 19-year-old male from
The suicide has shaken the Tech community to another level of awareness, said
"We're still trying to put the pieces together and support the parents," said Beatty. "We've been dealing with this just the past two days. We've been visiting with counselors and looking at where we go from here, starting with protocol and prevention efforts."
While Beatty said he's unsure how Tech will engage with Project Aware, the college received much support from the community at large following the suicide. He heard from
At any rate, it's apparent that local experts are pooling their resources for a healthier, safer
"We've had a lot of ideas but we have a long way to go," said O'Leary. "We get to build this from scratch for
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