College mental health receives $335,000 in Worcester
Community Healthlink, a provider of behavioral health and addiction services in Central Massachusetts, has received a three-year, $335,000 grant to support area colleges and universities with detecting and responding to mental illness on campus.
The Project AWARE-Community grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will support the training of more than 1,000 adults on area campuses in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). This public education program gives training in understanding the risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, and an understanding of the importance of early intervention.
“College-age youth are at a unique and vulnerable time in their lives. This is the time when it is common for a number of serious mental illnesses to first manifest. Nearly three-quarters of mental health disorders start by age 24,” Deborah Ekstrom, Community Healthlink’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
“This project will increase the mental health literacy of adults in our community who interact with college-age youth, and provide them with the skills necessary to appropriately intervene and refer youth who are exhibiting signs of mental distress for professional help,” she said.
Community Healthlink will partner with LUK Inc. and the SHINE Initiative to conduct the work under this grant.
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