Introduction
Identify. Educate. Advocate.
Education can have a positive impact on reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. Mental Health issues can make an individual feel unseen or judged and act as a barrier to seeking help. Early education on the symptoms, characteristics, and traits of mental illnesses can teach students, parents, schools, and the community empathy and compassion for people with anxiety, depression, and other mental health needs. By cultivating an awareness, we are giving people an understanding of what is happening inside themselves or with their friends or family members. Having the ability to spot concerns early on will help guide treatment, foster societal understanding, and reduce stigma on the subject of mental illness.
Education can allow space for the normalization of asking for help from a young age and provide for resources many children so desperately need.
Task
Impact through Education
Through education Mental Health First Step will:
- Increase the understanding of signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with mental health challenges.
- Identify local professionals and self-help resources for individuals and families.
- Increase compassion and empathy.
- Reduce stigma.
- Increase the likelihood for help to be sought out before a crisis.
- Build skills to manage the mental wellbeing of yourself and the people around you.
Mental health literacy can increase confidence / self-efficacy and likelihood to offer support when you see someone suffering.
The Mental Health First Step online education platform is designed to help a variety of local populations including:
| Social Work Students | School Personnel | Parents | Youth Workers |
| Social Service Employees | Mental Health Professionals | Juvenile Justice Employees | Community Members |
AGENCY DESCRIPTION:
The Mental Health First Step organization will act as an online platform with links to local education and mental health resources. Our organization will offer assistance in identifying and accessing community-based mental health services and support in conjunction with established organizations like the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, NAMI Virginia, Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center, along with area mental health non-profits.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART:
The Mental Health First Step organizational chart will consist of our board of directors. Local volunteers with a background in banking, social work, education, and mental health. Our agency will employ a Director of Operations, a Web Developer, and an Administrative Assistant.
FUNDING:
Funding for The Mental Health First Step organization will be provided by local, state, federal and philanthropic resources via donations and grant opportunities.
Grants | Langley For Families Foundation
Grants - Apply for Hampton Roads Non-Profit Grants (sevacf.org)
Secretary of the Commonwealth - Grants (virginia.gov)
Process
I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
A. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED: Stigma can act as a barrier for identifying and advocating for individuals suffering with mental health illnesses. The most effective way to reduce stigma is through education. Early education on symptoms, characteristics, and traits of mental illnesses can provide much needed information and support to students, parents, schools, and the greater community of Hampton Roads, VA. Fostering a societal understanding of mental illness will allow for much needed advocacy and preventative measures so we are proactively treating mental illness and not reactively addressing concern and crisis.
B. Goals and Objectives: The Mental Health First Step organization has a goal to be the primary and foremost digital platform for the population of Hampton Roads, Virginia to receive mental health education and resource referrals. Our agency's goal is to partner with local mental health organizations, hospitals, and nonprofits to increase engagement and mental health literacy.
C. TARGET POPULATION: Hampton Roads, Virginia.
D. PROJECT ACTIVITES: Online portal for mental health education and resource referrals. Our agency will not be acting in the capacity of a licensed health care professional, rather a platform to cultivate awareness.
E. Key Staff: The Mental Health First Step organizational chart will consist of our board of directors. Local volunteers with a background in banking, social work, education, and mental health. Our agency will employ a Director of Operations, a Web Developer, and an Administrative Assistant.
II. SUCCESS CRITERIA AND MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
The Mental Health First Step organization's success criteria will be based on web traffic for residents in the community that seek out our referral services. To gain success we will establish measurable goals like forming community partnerships that direct individuals seeking education to our site. We will partner with local organizations like The Urban League of Hampton Roads, City websites, school social workers, and other area mental health nonprofit organizations. These partnerships will be formed within the first year of operations.
III. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
The Director of Operations of The Mental Health First Step organization has a Master of Social Work degree from Norfolk State University. Their educational background and in field experience with a focus on mental health established a foundation for identifying an unmet need in our community for child welfare.
IV. AFFILIATIONS WITH SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS
National Alliance on Mental Illness "NAMI" Coastal Virginia NAMI Coastal Virginia | National Alliance on Mental Illness
Hampton Roads Community Foundations Homepage - Hampton Roads CF
V. TIMELINE
Establish a website domain - Projected date 1 month.
Establish board of directors - Projected date 1 month.
Form 501 c3 - Projected date 2 months.
Develop general proposal and budget - Projected date 75 days.
Hire Web Designer for online platform - Projected date 3 months.
Submit proposal letter - Projected date 3 months.
Accept or decline award(s) - Projected date 5 months.
Receive award letters(s) - Projected date 6 months.
Employe Administrative Assistant - Projected date 8 months.
Establish partnership with local mental health organizations and non-profits: 10 months.
VI. BUDGET
General Donations: $6,000
Awarded Grants: $80,000
TOTAL REVENUE: $86,000
Salaries: $60,000
Payroll Taxes $3,000
Insurance $500
Marketing & PR $500
Technology & Phone $1,500
Professional Services $1,000
TOTAL EXPENSES $66,500
Net gain/loss $19,500
VII: LONG-TERM SOURCES / STRATEGIES FOR FUNDING
Local, State, and Federal Grants
Evaluation
Policies and Laws regarding Mental Health Education to End Stigma
H.R.1109 - Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2020 Text - H.R.1109 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2020 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
This bill was introduced in the 116 Congress session and was passed by the House on September 29, 2020, but was never passed by the Senate. The design of the bill was to provide comprehensive school-based mental health services to assist children with mental health issues such as grieve, depression, suicide ideation, and violence.
H.R.3180 - RISE from Trauma Act Text - H.R.3180 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): RISE from Trauma Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
This bill was also introduced in the 116 Congress session but moved no further. The design of the bill was to provide financial assistance to programs and services to address childhood trauma. The act aimed to increasing funding for community-based assistance services to prevent and mitigate trauma and expand training.
The above Acts are just 2 examples of how the American government, try as it may, has not devoted enough financial assistance and has failed to highlight the importance of mental health education and services. These are just two examples of why communities must rely so heavily on local service agencies and non-profit organizations to act on their behalf to provide resources and treatment to foster societal understanding and reduce stigma on the subject of mental illness.
Conclusion
MENTAL HEALTH IS.....HEALTH
Understanding that you cannot have good health without good mental health is a concept worth fighting for!
Mental Health issues can make an individual feel unseen or judged and act as a barrier to seeking help. It is imperative we seek to support early education on symptoms and warning signs of mental illness so that no one suffers in silence or feels like they have failed a loved one after a crisis has occurred.
AWARENESS + EDUCATION + ADVOCACY will help reduce stigma and foster change.
