The Tazewell County Health Department in Illinois has been awarded a $13,800 grant from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois to support mental health first aid classes. These classes aim to equip community members with the skills to assist individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Mental Health First Aid: A Practical Approach
The program offers a hands-on curriculum that allows participants to practice real-life scenarios, providing practical tools for addressing mental health issues. JD Raucci, a communication and health education specialist at the health department, has recently become a certified instructor for these classes.
Raucci emphasized the value of the training:
“It’s not just saying ‘this is what you should do.’ It’s giving you an opportunity to really practice those skills so that you can help people having mental health challenges.”
Early Intervention and Resource Connection
While the training does not involve diagnosing or treating mental health conditions, it focuses on identifying early signs of mental health issues and connecting individuals to appropriate resources.
“We can provide resources to people to connect them to the help they need,” Raucci explained.
Grant to Fund Free Classes
The grant funding will enable the health department to offer eight free mental health first aid classes to community members. These sessions aim to foster a proactive approach to mental health support and strengthen community capacity to respond to mental health crises effectively.
This initiative represents a significant step toward promoting mental health awareness and ensuring early interventions within Tazewell County.
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