KSU Awarded $600K for Mental Health Training Program

KENT, Ohio –  Kent State University’s Center for Public Policy and Health in the College of Public Health was recently awarded $600,000 in grant funding by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration to support the Northeast Ohio Mental Health Awareness Training program.

Using evidence-based mental health awareness training and community resource education, NEO MHAT will train teachers and relevant school personnel to connect children and youths in a school setting to appropriate mental health resources. 

NEO MHAT is a collaborative project with the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio; Stark County Educational Service Center; Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County; and Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery. 

The project spans 69 school districts in nine counties in northeastern Ohio, including large cities like Cleveland and Akron. The counties include Carroll, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne.

NEO MHAT will train teachers and relevant school personnel on how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental disorders and how to de-escalate crises safely. 

In addition, NEO MHAT will provide education on appropriate resources available in the community.

Kim Laurene, assistant professor in Kent State’s Center for Public Policy and Health, said the center sees the need for the program firsthand. 

“As mental health continues to be on the forefront of so many people’s minds, we are extremely fortunate for this funding and look forward to working with our partners to provide this valuable training across northeast Ohio,” Laurene said. “At the center, we see firsthand the urgent need to connect students with mental health resources. We believe this project will significantly impact students’ mental health and prepare teachers and school personnel with the resources they need in northeast Ohio.”

Click HERE for more information.

Pictured at top: The Kent State University team of students and employees who will support the Northeast Ohio Mental Health Awareness Training program stand outside Lowry Hall, home of the university’s College of Public Health.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.