Dr. Alexander Chan, mental health specialist with the University of Maryland Extension (UME), has received a $580,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand mental health awareness, literacy, and crisis response training across Maryland till September 2029.
The initiative will build on UME’s Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) programs to equip community members with the skills to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness, safely de-escalate crisis situations, identify community resources, and connect individuals with appropriate mental health services.
The need for accessible mental health education is significant. According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly one in four U.S. adults experienced a mental health issue in the past year. Additionally, approximately one in five adolescents ages 12 to 17 experienced moderate or severe symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in 2024. These findings highlight the importance of preparing communities to recognize mental health concerns and respond effectively.
“Many people feel nervous to intervene during a mental health crisis, if they even recognize the situation as such,” said Chan. “The training is important to help people identify the early warning signs of a mental health challenge and intervene before a person lands in the emergency room, or in police custody.”
Through the grant, UME will expand training for individuals who are positioned to support others in their communities. “The more people who know how to handle mental health situations, the stronger a community’s safety net is,” Chan said.
Training focuses on four primary objectives:
- Recognizing mental health challenges: Helping participants identify signs and symptoms of mental illness and recognize when someone may need support.
- Responding safely to crises: Developing skills to respond appropriately and de-escalate crisis situations involving individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
- Identifying community resources: Increasing awareness of local mental health agencies, support programs, and other available services.
- Connecting individuals with care: Helping participants guide individuals toward appropriate professional treatment and community-based support.
The initiative will also establish and strengthen connections with community-based mental health agencies to improve access to services and support by building stronger partnerships among schools, emergency response organizations, community leaders, and local mental health service providers. “Marylanders should seek us out to bring the training to their communities,” Chan says. “We organize training anywhere across the state, from Deep Creek to Ocean City.”
The initiative aligns with SAMHSA’s strategic priorities of expanding crisis intervention care and services and improving access to evidence-based treatment for mental illness. Mental Health First Aid is part of the Maryland ROPTA (Reinforcing Overdose Prevention through Training and Advocacy) program, which recently received the Outstanding Rural Health Program Award from the Maryland Rural Health Association for promoting and providing effective community-oriented rural health care delivery.
For more information about Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid through UME, visit https://extension.umd.edu/programs/family-consumer-sciences/mental-health-well-being/maryland-ropta/programs/.