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Aetna has awarded the University of North Georgia (¹û¶³´«Ã½) a $100,000 community investment to expand within ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and the greater north Georgia region. The funding will allow ¹û¶³´«Ã½ to expand instructor certification to more faculty, staff and community members as well as offer more courses to provide certification in Mental Health First Aid to 600 students, with a focus on those in the health care programs. It will increase ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s total number of certified instructors to 18.

Additionally, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is partnering with community health providers and organizations to train 10 community-based partners as Mental Health First Aid instructors to increase the carryover of skills into the greater communities that ¹û¶³´«Ã½ serves, as well as provide 600 certifications to community-based health care providers' professionals and volunteers who care for patients within ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s communities.

Mental Health First Aid is managed, operated and disseminated by the . It is a course that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training offers essential techniques that can be used to assist an individual who is experiencing a mental health crisis, similar to how CPR provides critical tools to save someone's life in a medical emergency.

"It teaches you how to respond and direct people to the appropriate care and resources," Meri-Leigh Smith, associate director of wellness and health promotion in Campus Recreation and Wellness, said.

It's crucial that we offer the same level of care and urgency in responding to mental health emergencies as we would any other health crisis. Collaborating with the University of North Georgia to support this training will help equip care providers with the tools they need to address the holistic health needs of their patients, especially in underserved communities.

Sonya Nelson

Division President at Aetna Medicaid

"It's crucial that we offer the same level of care and urgency in responding to mental health emergencies as we would any other health crisis," Sonya Nelson, Division President at Aetna Medicaid, said. "Collaborating with the University of North Georgia to support this training will help equip care providers with the tools they need to address the holistic health needs of their patients, especially in underserved communities."

¹û¶³´«Ã½ is a leader in health care education with more than 80% of all health care alumni remaining within the north Georgia region upon graduation. The university partners with local employers to ensure a steady workforce pipeline of professionals — both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Rural north Georgia is designated as both a Health Professional Shortage Area as well as a Medically Underserved Area, in particular mental health services and accessibility, according to the Georgia Department of Community Health. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the existing health care workforce shortage. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is working hand in hand with its health care partners to provide solutions to care for both the patients served as well as the health care professionals caring for them.

"We're looking forward to implementing the Mental Health First Aid training with our health care students and giving them this additional credential," Dr. Carolynn DeSandre, dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professions, said.

Before receiving the grant, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ had already certified 200 students in Mental Health First Aid, mostly those seeking degrees in the health care and education fields.

Glen Harris Jr., assistant dean for student care and outreach, is one of ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s certified instructors. Through the course, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is also able to promote its stepped-care model, which provides insights on how to assist people facing different issues. He said Mental Health First Aid allows students to be there for each other.

"They don't have to be the experts. They don't have to be a doctor or clinician," Harris said. "They can recognize when someone's in distress and help them get the support they need."

One of the highlights for Harris in teaching the course is seeing students, faculty and staff learning alongside each other.

"It adds a different dynamic to how students see professors. They are taking the course together," Harris said. "It reinforces that ¹û¶³´«Ã½ cares about their mental health."