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Elminating Barriers Initiative
Suicide Prevention and Toolkit
Trainings for School Personnel
Bulletin for School Administrators
Articles and Resources
Eliminating Barriers Initiative#
The Elimination of Barriers Initiative (EBI) is a 3-year initiative launched in September 2003 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]. This initiative is aimed at identifying effective public education approaches to counter the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illnesses. Wisconsin, along with seven other states, agreed to pilot this initiative through Wisconsin United for Mental Health (WUMH). WUMH is a partnership of public and private organizations created to help educate Wisconsinites about mental illness and to serve as a resource for people around the state. Wisconsin United for Mental Health is dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with having a mental illness and encouraging people to seek the necessary treatment.
In 2004, Mental Health America of Wisconsin, along with other WUMH partners, conducted two "train the trainer" day long workshops. These workshops were designed to prepare pupil services personnel to take the 4-module EBI training package, developed for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
EBI Train the Trainer Workshop Goals:
The training-of-trainers for pupil services personnel will provide:
- First-hand experience of the material as a participant (one module)
- Hands-on practice in facilitating the materials by working as a team member to prepare and to present a segment of the material to other training participants.
- Experience in partnering with a classroom teacher and/or family member in the facilitation of some module segments.
- Intimate familiarity with the material, its intention, and the local mental health resources available in Wisconsin to support this training effort.
- An energizing day with other people who are also concerned about meeting the learning needs of students with emotional behavioral disabilities.
The four modules in the ELIMINATING BARRIERS FOR LEARNING package are described below. Each module constitutes approximately one hour of training time.
MODULE I: ELIMINATING BARRIERS FOR LEARNING: THE FOUNDATION
This module describes the links between teen social-emotional development, mental health, and learning. It also addresses the impact of the stigma surrounding mental health issues. It lays the foundation for the three modules that follow.
MODULE II: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, AND LEARNING
Module II gives an overview of common mental health issues among adolescents and their potential effects on learning and behavior. It trains teachers to recognize risk factors and protective factors for emotional behavioral disability.
MODULE III: STRATEGIES TO MAKE HELP ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Module III equips teachers with the tools they need to address specific mental health issues in their classrooms. It shows how to formulate a plan to help students with mental health needs and encourages the creation of sustained school-home-community partnerships to meet the educational and developmental needs of youth.
MODULE IV: STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE CLASSROOM CLIMATE
Module IV addresses ways to create a classroom climate that promotes learning and mental health for all students.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is the Elimination of Barriers Initiative?
A:The Elimination of Barriers Initiative (EBI) is a 3-year initiative launched in September 2003 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]. The initiative is aimed at identifying effective public education approaches to counter the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illnesses.
Q: What are the goals and objectives of the EBI?
A:The objectives of the EBI are to counter stigma and discrimination, reduce barriers to treatment, build public support around the idea of recovery, and emphasize the importance of having quality, community-based services accessible to people with mental illnesses.
Q: Why is the EBI fighting stigma?
A:Discrimination and stigma have created a social climate that makes it harder for people with mental illnesses to sustain employment, find a home, obtain health insurance, and access treatment.
Q: Why target Schools?
A: Because mental health is part of our classrooms. Serious emotional disturbances (SEDs) affect about 5 to 9 percent of teenagers in America. This means that SEDs--diagnosable disorders in children and adolescents that severely disrupt daily functioning--affect about one in 15 teens or, on average, two students in every high school classroom.
Growing evidence shows that when schools address mental health issues they can boost academic achievement, reduce absenteeism, and increase graduation rates.
Q: What Materials Will Schools Receive to Conduct EBI trainings?
A: To help schools reap these benefits, the EBI has developed a variety of materials. These include a guide for school administrators, a teacher training package, and several other tools, all designed to help educators make mental health a part of their classrooms.
Booklet
Eliminating Barriers for Learning: An Administrator's Guide. This brief booklet invites school administrators to use the teacher training package developed by the EBI. It explains how the training package can help teachers and schools achieve their academic objectives and provides the practical information administrators need to implement the training.
Training Package
Eliminating Barriers for Learning: Social and Emotional Factors That Enhance Secondary Education
The training package consists of four modules, each with a trainer's outline and trainer's notes, slides, and handouts. The modules aim to:
- Increase knowledge of adolescent mental health, including risks and protective factors
- Show teachers and staff how to develop an action plan to help students who need additional support
- Suggest ways to promote a mentally healthy learning environment through instructional techniques that take into account individual differences and the classroom climate
- Help staff identify school and community resources and partnerships to promote youth mental health
Like most forms of in-service education and professional development training, Eliminating Barriers for Learning emphasizes knowledge and skill development.
Poster
The poster, intended for teacher's lounges, publicizes the training modules. It includes space for each school to post dates and hours of the training.
Print Ads
Designed for educators newsletters, these black and white print ads publicize the training package.
Ready-to-Print Newsletter Articles
Two different articles for educator newsletters feature students with SEDs who have been successful in high school thanks to the help of teachers and other staff members. The articles publicize the EBI training package.
To obtain a free copy of the school materials, please
e-mail
SAMSHA.
Interested in learning more about receiving a Train the Trainer (TOT) workshop in your school? Contact Lisa A. Roehl, Director of Programs at Mental Health America of Wisconsin at (414) 276-3122.
List of Wisconsin Schools who have already participated in the EBI TOT workshop: Appleton West High School, Appleton North High School, Chavez Elementary School, East Troy, Elm Lawn Elementary, Franklin Public Schools, Greendale, Hamilton, Lodi High School, Menasha School District, Mukwonago, MPS, Verona Area School District, Wisconsin School for the Deaf, School District of New Richmond, Sun Prairie, Westby Area School, Waukesha, and West Allis-West Milwaukee.
Participated in the April 20, 2005 EBI Training in Wausau: Fond du Lac Area School, Minoqua, Hazelhurst, Lake Tomahawk, Jt. district #1, Sevastopol School District, Sheboygan Area School District, School District of Washburn, and West Allis-West Milwaukee.
Suicide Prevention Bulletin for School Administrators
#
The MHA is pleased to announce the first edition of Well Aware, a suicide prevention bulletin for school administrators. The bulletin is made possible by the MHA's Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Youth Suicide Prevention Grant. The bulletin is being produced in collaboration with the Department of Public Instruction with content development by Point De Vue Communications, Inc. in
Sheboygan,
WI, which also publishes the magazine
Advancing Suicide Prevention.
This bulletin is going to all school superintendents, principals and school board members in
Wisconsin and will provide them with factual information about youth suicide and suicide prevention. The bulletin will be published three times in the 2006-2007 school year, with each edition highlighting programs being implemented at schools across
Wisconsin. The bulletin seeks to educate school leaders about why schools should be addressing suicide prevention and provide them with best practices and resources.
To view the newest edition of Well Aware
click here.
If you have questions, comments or would like more information about the MHA's youth suicide prevention activities contact Brenda Jennings at 608-441-8980.
Suicide Prevention
Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Welcome to the Mental Health America's (MHA) "Getting Started" toolkit. This toolkit provides you with resources and tools to assist you in creating your youth suicide project. This toolkit assumes its audience to be a community-wide collaborative of agencies and individuals working together to prevent suicide in their community. Suicide is a public health problem and requires a comprehensive prevention approach only possible by the cooperation of multiple stakeholders. However, given the youth focus of this prevention project the school system is given special attention. Whenever possible we have included materials that are school specific and materials that are community coalition specific.
Red Flags in Children's Behavior: Signs and Symptoms of a Mental Health Problem in Children
Presentation Overview:
Early Childhood (1-4 years)
Middle Childhood (5-10 years)
Adolescence (11-21 years)
- Developmental stage goals & competencies
- Common mental health disorders
- Red flag behavioral problems
- Role of the early, middle, and adolescent caregiver
Speakers Bureau
Let's Talk Mental Health: Educational Programs for the Community
Looking for a speaker to address mental health issues at your next meeting, program, special event or classroom presentation? The Mental Health America's speakers bureau, "Let's Talk Mental Health", may be able to help.
Our volunteer speakers are health professionals with expertise and interest in a variety of areas and can present on a number of topics.
Gatekeeper Training
Gatekeeper training presentations can be developed based on your needs. Below are two examples:
1) Signs and Symptoms of Suicide.
Overview of Presentation: Wisconsin Suicide Facts, Symptoms of Major Depression in Teens, Things to Ask Yourself about Symptoms, Suicidal Risk Factors, Things You Need to Know About Suicide, Warning Signs of Suicide, Helping the Suicidal Individual, Be Direct, and Resources.
2) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LBBTQ) Youth: Unique Issues and Suicide Intervention Strategies.
Overview of Presentation: become familiar with appropriate language and terminology, be able to identify GBLTQ stigma, discrimination, bullying and violence and its effects on youth, and introduce a system's approach to LGBT youth suicide assessment/risk.
** Visit our
community outreach presentation
page for more information on setting up a presentation with one of our speakers.**
Articles and Resources#
2007
Wisconsin
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
The Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is conducted as part of a
national effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
monitor health-risk behaviors of the nation's high school students. These
behaviors, in turn, result in the most significant causes of both mortality and
morbidity during youth and adulthood. The behaviors monitored by the Wisconsin
YRBS include traffic safety; weapons and violence; suicide; tobacco use; alcohol
and other drug use; sexual behavior; and diet, nutrition and exercise. More info>>
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems
Fact Sheets
for School Personnel are designed to provide a brief overview of the mental health diagnosis most frequently encountered by those who work with students who have educational disabilities. These are complex issues and the answers are not simple, but the Fact Sheets are intended to provide a starting point. On each Fact Sheet, there is background information, common symptoms, ideas for school-based interventions, and general resources.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems - for School Personnel are designed to provide a brief overview of the mental health diagnosis most frequently encountered by those who work with students who have educational disabilities. These are complex issues and the answers are not simple, but the Fact Sheets are intended to provide a starting point. On each Fact Sheet, there is background information, common symptoms, ideas for school-based interventions, and general resources.
