Mental Health

Thanks to a federal grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Greene County Mental Health Awareness Training Project at Community Partnership of the Ozarks is well on its way to certifying 2,250 First Aiders in Youth Mental Health First Aid and Adult Mental Health First Aid in Greene County over a three-year period! Through these 8-hour trainings, community members are empowered to be trusted individuals for youth and adults to turn to when in need. Our project also offers additional trainings to the First Aiders through lunch-and-learn webinars and an annual First Aider Summit. See below for more information.

Firearm Suicide Prevention

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for Missourians aged 18-24, and last year roughly 1 in 10 Missouri students shared that they had planned suicide at some point in their life. We are working to build community around mental health awareness, training, and resources in an effort to prevent suicide across our region.  Suicide by firearm is far more likely to result in death than any other means. Our firearm suicide prevention team works in four counties in southwest Missouri through a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. They are working to increase community awareness around the risk, decrease access to firearms as a lethal means for suicide, and increase community collaboration. We have more information including a series of videos on how to safely story firearms at our Firearm Suicide Prevention webpage. Click the button below to learn more.

Borrow My Angel

Borrow My Angel partners with CPO to promote mental wellness in the community. CPO provides fiscal administration and staff support to Borrow My Angel to bring encouragement and resources to those affected by depression or suicidal crisis. Borrow My Angel originated from a song written from a brother to his sister, offering his guardian angel to help her during an especially low time. This concept, that sometimes our family, friends, neighbors, or a complete stranger may need to borrow some strength has paved the way for Borrow My Angel to explore how to help during a mental health crisis.

Home Safety Kits

The Home Safety Kits are free and available for any community member as capacity allows. These kits include a medication lock box, firearm cable lock, safe medication disposal bags, and educational materials on suicide prevention and substance use prevention. Click the link to sign up and be matched with a location to pick up your kit!

Suicide Prevention Efforts

This page was developed as part of the Project AWARE-C grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.

Upcoming Trainings

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a public education program which introduces participants to unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and most importantly – teaches individuals how to help a youth in crisis or experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. YMHFA is an 8-hour course which uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. Anyone who regularly works or interacts with youth – teachers, athletic coaches, mentors, juvenile justice professionals and others – may find the course content useful.

Adult Mental Health First Aid Training

Adult Mental Health First Aid is a public education program which introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adults, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Adult Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course, which uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect persons to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The program also teaches about risk factors and warning signs of illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addictions. The program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like “What Do I Do?” and “Where Can Someone Find Help?” Instructors compile and provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support.

First Aider Forums

The YMHSP is partnering with local organizations to offer additional in-depth trainings about specific mental health challenges and mental health resources to area First Aiders through lunch-and-learn forums and the annual First Aider Summit, an all-day conference aimed at arming certified adults with the tools they need to feel more confident when interacting with youth in need of help.

Mental Health Moments

Mental Health Moments is a library of video resources related to the mental health spectrum. These short snippets are designed to give viewers and their loved ones a greater understanding of mental health issues they may face, how to care for their mental health, risk factors and treatments for common mental health issues and how to support mental health difficulties in those they love.

Mental Health Awareness Campaigns

Raise community awareness about mental health struggles and stigma to help the people of the Ozarks understand the challenges of mental health issues and help those in need connect to resources for recovery.

Additional Resources

Through your participation in the YMHFA program, along with current certified First Aiders, the YMHSP will continue to garner further community involvement within Greene County and reach our goals to reduce the impact of mental health challenges across the lifespan through early intervention and prevention methods! Thank you for being a part of this program!

For more information regarding our mental health programming, contact Samantha Sherman at ssherman@cpozarks.org.