SHARON, Pa. — In response to our nation’s mental health crisis, Penn State Shenango faculty members will offer free Mental Health First Aid training to community members on Tuesday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Sharon Hall room 108 on campus. This skills-based course gives people the tools to identify, understand and respond to someone who might be struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge — and connect them with appropriate support and resources when necessary.
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, one in five Americans has a mental illness, and the pandemic has dramatically increased depression and anxiety, but many are reluctant to seek help or don’t know where to turn for care. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can be difficult to detect. Friends and family members may find it hard to know when and how to step in. As a result, many of those in need of mental health services often do not receive care until it is too late.
“Given the growing demand for mental health awareness and support, this training felt especially timely,” said Tammy Divens, teaching professor in Penn State Shenango’s occupational therapy assistant program and mental health first aid instructor. “It empowers both professionals and community members with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize and respond to mental health challenges. Our intent is to encourage the community and to bring hope.”
The training will be delivered in a blended format, meaning part of the training is done online and the rest will be done in-person with certified instructors on June 10. The online portion covers foundational knowledge, and the live session focuses on real-life scenarios, skill-building, and discussion. This approach allows participants to learn at their own pace initially and then reinforce their knowledge through interactive, guided learning.
“In many fields, this kind of training is becoming essential not just for safety, but for creating supportive, healthy workplaces,” Associate Teaching Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and mental health first aid instructor Roxanne Atterholt said.
Registration for the Mental Health First Aid training session is limited to 30 participants and can be done by emailing Atterholt at [email protected].
The training is open to all interested community members and is especially valuable for human service workers, clinicians, educators, first responders, healthcare workers, HR professionals, and anyone in customer service or social services roles. Training for the instructors and community participants is funded through Penn State Shenango’s Kathleen and John Mastrian Community Health Impact Fund.
“Mental health resources are often out of reach for so many people,” Atterholt said. “Being able to offer this training for free removes a barrier and opens the door for more people to step up as helpers in their communities.”
