Veteran advocates, schools, family groups will learn how to respond to those in crisis
WellSpan Philhaven has received a national grant to expand its mental health and suicide prevention training to groups that include veterans’ advocates, school employees, criminal justice providers and social service agencies in southcentral Pennsylvania.
The $375,000 grant came from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
WellSpan Philhaven was one of just two mental health organizations in the state to receive a Mental Health Awareness Training grant from SAMHSA in 2018, the other being NAMI, in Erie County.
WellSpan Philhaven will use the funds to expand two of its training programs: Mental Health First Aid and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer). Both programs teach people how to recognize and respond to someone who is having mental health problems or crises.
“The classes are the equivalent of CPR for mental health issues,” said Jayne Miller, WellSpan Philhaven community mental health education coordinator, who teaches the classes. “The training shows people how to respond to someone in a way that may help prevent a tragedy.”
Eight partner community organizations initially will be receiving the training, including For the Love of a Veteran in Hanover, York County; the Lebanon County Correctional Facility; the Warwick School District in Lititz, Lancaster County; and the We Matter Coalition in Hershey, Dauphin County. The training will help those who need it most, one local recipient said.
“It is crucial for correctional staff because they are often the forgotten profession in the law enforcement community,” said Tina Litz, director of training of the Lebanon County Correctional Facility. “Correctional officers often work long hours, usually due to staffing shortages and are exposed to highly charged situations that often produce emotional casualties among staff. Mental Health First Aid training offers correctional staff a resource they can relate to both personally and professionally. In short, it’s a lifesaver.”
For the Love of a Veteran works to raise awareness of PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, and the mental health challenges faced by veterans. The training will be very valuable to family members of veterans and volunteers with the group, said the group’s director, Christine Waltz.
“It’s hard to know what to say or what not to say to people who are struggling,” Waltz said. “It is important that veterans know there is someone out there who is listening and there are people who want to help them. The training will help them know what to do.”
The grant-funded training will be offered in addition to WellSpan Philhaven’s ongoing Mental Health First Aid and QPR training, which is particularly geared toward suicide prevention. WellSpan Philhaven’s certified trainers have taught more than 2,000 people in the two programs to date. The training is offered free, as part of its community benefit programs. Donors also help to fund the training programs.
About WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization is comprised of more than 1,500 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians, a regional behavioral health organization, a home care organization, eight respected hospitals, more than 19,000 employees, and more than 170 patient care locations. WellSpan is a charitable, mission-driven organization, committed to exceptional care for all, lifelong wellness and healthy communities.
