By Nathan Carter

In December, Johnson County Mental Health Center will begin offering a new version of Mental Health First Aid training. This class will help older adults learn more about supporting the unique mental health challenges of their peers.

Two JCMHC staff will be certified as instructors and teach the course.

“Offering this course will build a community of older adults who can be a listening ear and a supportive voice for their friends,” said Sarah Haupt, JCMHC’s community engagement coordinator and one of the trainers for Mental Health First Aid.

“We want to help them be comfortable, confident and prepared for conversations with other older adults who are increasingly struggling with their mental health in a post-pandemic world.”

According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 older adults have a mental health condition, while men over the age of 75 have a higher rate of death by suicide than any other age group.

Older adults have high rates of mental health challenges but low rates of identification and treatment. The new course hopes to change that in Johnson County.

Participants will learn risk factors and warning signs specific to older adults. Using scenarios that reflect the common needs and experiences of older adults, the eight hour course also teaches participants how to assist and support older adults experiencing mental health challenges or crises.

“Taking Mental Health First Aid is a lot like learning CPR. You get the knowledge and skills to provide immediate support and be a life-saving bridge to professional help for someone in need,” Haupt said.

JCMHC currently provides Mental Health First Aid training for adults and teens. Their staff led 40 training sessions in 2022, getting more than 600 people certified in Mental Health First Aid. They also partnered with the Blue Valley School District to train nearly 200 teachers, coaches and sponsors in one day, the largest single-day Mental Health First Aid in Kansas.

This year, grant funds sparked partnerships with Olathe Public Schools, Kansas School for the Deaf, Olathe Police Department and Olathe Fire Department to train 4,000 school staff, first responders and students.

The first training for older adults will take place Friday, Dec. 8, at the Sunset Office Building in Olathe. The cost is $50, but scholarships are available.

To sign up, contact Johnson County Mental Health Center at JCMHCevents@jocogov.org or 913-715-7880.

Nathan Carter is community relations manager at the Johnson County Mental Health Center.