Mental Health Awareness Training
Coastal Horizons Mental Health Awareness Team (MHAT) offers mental health awareness trainings which play a crucial role in creating a more informed, supportive, and resilient community. By educating individuals, workplaces, and communities about mental health and wellbeing, training can foster understanding, build connection, reduce stigma, encourage early intervention, and enhance personal wellbeing.
These evidence-based trainings are grant funded and offered at no cost to participants who live or work in Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Bladen, or Columbus counties. Options for training include Youth Mental Health First Aid™, The Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® and Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)®.
Trainings are offered virtually, at your site or selected location, or the MHAT office at 1404 Medical Center Dr. Wilmington, NC 28401.
For the virtual training, each participant must have access to a webcam and microphone during the instructor led portion of the training.
For each training event, there is a minimum group size of 5 participants required. It is possible to serve groups larger than 30 with prior approval from the training team.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
MHFA courses are taught in a blended format which includes 2 hours of online self-paced pre-work and either virtual or in-person instructor led training.
The instructor-led portion can be scheduled for one 6-7-hour day, 2 half days, or four 2-2.5-hour sessions. If split into multiple days, all training must be completed within 2 weeks.
Upon completion of all course requirements, participants are certified as a Mental Health First Aider. Certification is valid for 3 years.
Youth MHFA teaches people how to help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. It is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.
Community Resiliency Model (CRM)
CRM workshops introduce the six wellness skills of CRM which are designed to help adults and children learn to track their own nervous system.
CRM trains community members to not only help themselves but to help others within their wider social network.
The primary focus of this skills-based, biologically based, stabilization program is to re-set the natural balance of the nervous system.
CRM’s goal is to help to create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-focused” communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased.
CRM workshops vary in length and can be designed to work for your schedule. A few standard options include:
CRM Basic Course (7-hour 1-day course) teaches community members the philosophy of CRM and the basic skills
CRM Basic Three Course (90 minutes – 2 hours) teaches the foundational concepts of CRM and the 3 basic skills; tracking, resourcing, and grounding
CRM Half Day Course (3-4 hours) teaches the foundational concepts of CRM, the Basic Three, and Help Now!/Reset Now! Skills
CRM Appetizer (1 hour) provides and overview of the model and skills
Design Your Own contact our team to discuss what will work best for your team, department, group, or community
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)
CALM is a practical intervention to increase the time and distance between individuals at risk of suicide and the most common and lethal methods of suicide, particularly firearms.
CALM teaches why means matter and equips individuals with tools to intervene effectively with those at risk for suicide both upstream – before a crisis hits – as well as in times of crisis.
CALM has versions available for both clinicians and non-clinicians:
CALM training for clinicians, primary care providers, substance abuse counselors, hotline responders, crisis intervention services, and other human services personnel is a 3.5 – 4-hour training.
CALM Conversations for community groups, suicide prevention coalitions, shooting clubs, parent groups, and the general public is a 90-minute training for anyone interested in learning how to help keep someone safe.
Our Team
If you would like to schedule a training, have questions, or need additional information, please email [email protected].
Amanda Hellman
YMHFA Instructor, Provisional CRM Teacher
[email protected]
Amy Read
YMHFA Instructor, Certified CRM Teacher, Certified CALM Instructor
[email protected]
Kelly Purcell
Certified CRM Teacher
[email protected]
Cristen Williams, LCSW
Provisional CRM Teacher
[email protected]
County Resource Guides
View Facilities, their contact information,and addresses in each county below.
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