Bridgeway Inc

Bridgeway Inc. Mental Health Awareness Training - Mental Health First Aid - Project Abstract Project Title: Bridgeway Inc. Mental Health Awareness Training-mental Health First Aid as a Provider of Mental Health and Substance Use Services for Over 25 Years, Bridgeway Believes That the Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness Creates a Significant Barrier to the Provision and Acceptance of Treatment and Recovery. Our Goal Is to Promote the Elimination of This Barrier in Order to Motivate Individuals to Seek Appropriate and Necessary Mental Health Care With the Same Confidence They Seek Treatment for Other Health Problems. Bridgeway Understands That Mental Health Is Essential to Overall Health and Instilling This Understanding Throughout Bridgeway’s Community Service Area Is Fundamental in Order to Establish a Healthcare System Which Treats Mental Illnesses With the Same Urgency as Physical Illnesses. Bridgeway Believes the Community at Large Is Important to the Identification, Intervention and Recovery of Persons With Mental Illness. There Is Much Work to Be Done to Inform, Educate and Equip the Community With the Compassion and Skills Necessary to Be of Help to People With Mental Illness or Mental Health Crisis. Bridgeway’s Mental Health Awareness Training Program Will Utilize Our 5 Current Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructors as Well as the Project Director, Once Certified, to Implement a Plan to Specifically Establish Linkages and Training to Local School Systems, Community-based Mental Health Agencies, Emergency Service Personnel, Law Enforcement, Fire Department Personnel, Veterans and Armed Service Members. Training Will Also Be Made Available to Family Members of These Groups as Well as Any Interested Community Members. Bridgeway Will Utilize the Evidence-based Mental Health First Aid Training Through the National Council of Behavioral Health. Training Will Help the Core Group of Personnel to Identify Persons With a Mental Disorder and Employ Crisis De-escalation Techniques as They Have a High Probability to Interact With Persons Who May Experience Mental Health Issues, Symptoms or Crises. Training Will Also Ensure These Individuals Are Educated Regarding Resources That Are Available in Our Rural Communities. Mental Health First Aid Training Will Be Conducted Primarily in Knox, Warren, Henderson and Henry Counties in West Central Illinois, But We Would Be Willing to Train in Other Areas of Illinois If Requested. Over the Five Year Lifetime of the Project, Our Goal Is to Train 1,000 Individuals in Mental Health First Aid; Annually, Our Goal Is to Train 200 Individuals. the Performance Strategies and Interventions to Achieve This Goal and Measure These Standards Include: Conducting Outreach Activities, Organizing, Scheduling and Conducting Training for the Specified Groups Listed Above and Completion of Training Evaluations for Each Individual.