MIDLAND, MI — The Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership was awarded a $5,000 grant to support Youth Mental Health First Aid training, addressing critical needs in youth mental wellness.
The funding comes through the Service Club Alliance, an initiative of the Midland Area Community Foundation that streamlines the grant application process for community organizations. The Rotary Club of Midland’s Community Needs Committee contributed $4,000 toward the grant, with the Midland Rotary Foundation providing an additional $1,000.
Recent data from the Youth Mental Health Tracker shows 45% of young people aged 10 to 24 reported mental health struggles within the past two years, with 29% having engaged in or considered self-harm. Research indicates that mental health improvement programs have led to a 10% reduction in suicidal thoughts and a 25% decrease in suicide attempts among students.
“We are deeply grateful for the funding that allows us to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid training, which is an essential step in supporting the well-being of our young people,” Dallas Rau, executive director of the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership, said in a statement.
“With suicide the third leading cause of death among youth ages 15–19, according to the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), equipping our community with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges has never been more urgent.”
Mental Health First Aid training teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges, providing skills to offer initial support and connect individuals to appropriate care.
The Service Club Alliance simplifies the grant process by using a joint application for organizations supporting Midland County residents, organizers said. While the organization convenes the process, each participating service club remains responsible for their individual grantmaking decisions.
The Youth Mental Health First Aid class will be offered on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Delta College Midland Downtown Center.
Individuals interested in registering can visit greatlakesbay.com/services-3 for more information.
For those wanting to learn more about the Service Club Alliance and its application process, information is available at midlandfoundation.org/initiative/sca/.
If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, help is available by calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on information from Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance. It was reviewed and edited by MLive staff.
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