Teenage mental health first responder training program initiated in Cape May County
A unique programme, known as the tMFHA programme, is empowering high school students in Cape May County, New Jersey, to support their peers who may be struggling with mental health issues. The initiative, led by the nonprofit organisation Cape Assist, is making strides in shifting the culture towards normalizing mental health challenges. The tMFHA programme is funded by the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It is embedded in the sophomore core curriculum of Cape May County high schools, and has already trained over 75% of students in participating schools such as Lower Cape May Regional High School, Cape May Tech, Wildwood High School, Middle Township High School, and Wildwood Catholic. The programme equips students with a structured five-step process to notice, ask, listen, connect to a trusted adult, and reinforce friendship. It does not turn students into counselors but rather equips them with tools to help their friends. One of the significant outcomes of the programme is a nearly 50% increase in student ability to help in a substance use crisis. There is also a 24% increase in student knowledge of where to send a friend for help. After training completion, there is a 31% increase in student confidence recognizing signs of a mental health challenge. These statistics are especially relevant in today's context, where the nation faces a youth mental health news crisis. Hospitalizations for anxiety among adolescents in New Jersey have risen by more than 50% between 2019 and 2021, and emergency visits for self-harm have climbed 68%. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 20% of children aged 12 to 17 in the U.S. reported symptoms of anxiety, while 18% reported symptoms of depression. In Cape May County, a 2021 Pride survey revealed 22% of 11th graders had seriously considered harming themselves or others. Joe Faldetta, a leader at Cape Assist, states that the sooner someone connects with someone experiencing a mental health challenge, the sooner they will start to feel better. Samantha Benigno, a student who took the course, learned what a trusted adult is and felt more confident to seek help. The programme has spread among students themselves, leading to more schools adopting it. Other nonprofits in northern New Jersey offering teen Mental Health First Aid training include the Mental Health Association in New Jersey and the New Jersey Prevention Network. The long-term goal is to train 75% of the county's high school students. The nonprofit organization supporting youth in Cape May County in recognizing mental health issues among their peers and responding appropriately is called "ADAPT." The tMFHA programme is making a difference in the lives of many young people, fostering a supportive environment where mental health challenges can be addressed openly and effectively.
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