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CGC certifies 19 in mental health education program
Seven individuals from the community show off their certificates on Aug. 25 after undergoing certification in Adult Mental Health First Aid under the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Community Guidance Center. (CHCC)
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Community Guidance Center certified last Aug. 25 seven additional individuals from the community in Adult Mental Health First Aid, plus 12 additional individuals from the CNMI Public School System and CHCC CGC on Sept. 16 in Youth MHFA.
So far this year, the CGC has completed 11 MHFA trainings, certifying a total of 115 individuals.
Since the training initiative began in 2015, CGC has already certified 1,122 individuals. Of these individuals, 1,103 were certified in the CNMI, 11 in Palau, and eight in Guam.
The certified individuals in the CNMI have served as a ready resource for the community to address behavioral health challenges in a timely manner, preventing serious harm to residents.
Since January 2021, the CGC System of Care and Healthy Transitions has acted on 137 service requests from partner agencies, stakeholder groups, and community members.
Twelve individuals from the CNMI Public School System and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Community Guidance Center are certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid on Sept. 16. (CHCC)
The MHFA is an evidence-based public education program that focuses on recognizing the patterns of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and appearance that show there might be a mental health or substance abuse challenge. Individuals are taught to safely and responsibly identify and address warning signs and symptoms through the use of an action plan. Part of the training also includes topics on suicide, non-suicidal self-injury, and psychosis.
The next scheduled public training for Adult Mental Health First Aid is in October 2021, and for Youth Mental Health First Aid in November 2021 on Rota.
For more information on MHFA, visit https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org. For more information and to request for the CGC’s MHFA training, visit https://chcc.gov.mp/communitysupporttraining.php or contact the CGC at (670) 323-6560. (PR)
