Foundation and its partners say Mental Health First Aid is making a difference
Greg DiDomenico of Community Memorial Foundation and Kimberly Knake of NAMI Metro-Suburban were among those who gathered last week to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Mental Health First Aid training in the area. (Jim Slonoff photo)
On Dec. 14, 2012, 26 people were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The shooting, which took the lives of 20 children ages 6 and 7 and six adults, prompted Community Memorial Foundation staff members to take action.
"The day after the shooting happened, we decided this is the time for the foundation to be bold and proactive and collaborative," CMF President and CEO Greg DiDomineco said Tuesday. "That's when we pulled together a group of community leaders from various sectors who had a shared vision for promoting good mental health."
The group came across the Mental Health First Aid program offered by the National Council of Behavioral Health, now the National Council for Mental Wellbeing."
Two years later, the foundation and its partners began offering Mental Health First Aid training in the area. Last week, the program's marked its 10th anniversary.
"This celebration is for you. This celebration is because of you," DiDomenico told those gathered for a luncheon in Western Springs.
In the past decade, close to 5,000 people have participated in the training, which covers anxiety, bipolar disorders, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia and substance use disorders. Participants have included first responders and school employees along with leaders of faith-based institutions, businesses and community organizations.
"The reasons for taking MHFA are many and varied, but all of the participants want to learn how to help someone experiencing a mental health challenge," said Geri Kerger, executive director of NAMI DuPage, one of the agencies that offers training. "Completion of a MHFA course has often become either a requirement or a strong suggestion for first responders, teachers, community leaders and those whose work environment may be likely to lead to encounters with people living with mental illness."
More members of businesses and faith communities have participated in the training since the pandemic, said Kimberly Knake, chief executive officer of NAMI Metro Suburban in La Grange, another partner in the initiative. A youth training program has existed for several years as well.
"MHFA Youth is great for parents that coach sports to (staff at) park districts," Knake said. "We have an increased focus on youth. We were certified by the National Council recently to bring MHFA to teens and school clubs."
Mental Health First Aid training is similar to first aid training for physical injuries.
"The goal of this training is to make mental health first aid as familiar as CPR," Kerger said. "By learning skills taught in MHFA, all of us can feel more comfortable in rendering aid - physical or mental - until more assistance is available.
"A Mental Health First Aid-trained person might de-escalate a crisis, connect someone to resources or even save a life," she added.
The eight-hour training includes a pre- and post-evaluation so providers can measure the increase in mental health literacy. It also has created "help-seeking behaviors" in people, Knake said.
"Many times, after taking the training, we hear anecdotally that this has helped them personally reduce their self-stigma and reach out for preventive help with their mental wellness," she said.
CMF anticipate the training would create the need for more mental health resources, DiDomenico said.
"We also knew as a foundation that the more we educated people, the greater the need would be for mental health services," he said. "So we simultaneously, beyond the training, increased our grantmaking to local organizations that provide counseling and support."
In addition to creating more knowledge and support, DiDomenico said the training also created more conversations and more hope.
"What I think happened here, as the trainers went out and they educated, they shared resources. They were spreading hope at each training," he said. "We brought the conversation to our kitchen tables."
DiDomenico noted the program also provided an opportunity for local organizations to become partners in the initiative by providing funding. The list includes the DuPage Foundation, the Rotary Club of La Grange, the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation and the Lyons Township and Proviso Township Mental Health commissions.
As they look ahead to the next 10 years, all agree that work will continue to educate and support individuals, families and communities on mental health.
"Our goals are to reach more BIPOC community members, in which the stigma in the community has been greater," Knake said.
She also mentioned working with the Cook County Public Health Department and training teens in Teen Mental Health First Aid in schools.
"While this is a celebration of 10 years, there is still more that needs to be done," DiDomenico said.
"Let's keep hope alive," he encouraged those at the luncheon. "Let's also lift each other up in building ways to strengthen our community."
