MSU Extension 4-H Healthy Youth

Across the U.S., youth mental health challenges have led to crippling consequences for individuals, families and communities. In Michigan, Michigan State University Extension is working to improve outcomes for youth facing these challenges, thanks in part to a three-year, $1.55 million grant from the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Since launching the grant in 2023, MSU Extension has worked with high schools and youth serving organizations in eight different counties to deliver mental health training to more than 620 individuals.

“So many youth are struggling with mental health challenges, be that stress, anxiety, depression or something else” explained Frank Cox, MSU Extension 4-H youth educator based in Muskegon County and principle investigator on the grant. “Our goal is to equip youth and the adults that work with them with the skills they need to identify those in a mental health crisis and learn how to best support them.”

To achieve this, MSU Extension has partnered with the National Center for School Safety (NCSS) for  the Bringing Mental Health First Aid to Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence grant. Located at the University of Michigan, NCSS seeks to improve school safety and prevent school violence. By teaching youth and educators how to help youth decompress and address mental health challenges, the grant seeks to achieve the long-term goal of reducing incidents of school violence.

“Not knowing how to effectively cope with feelings of anger, isolation, depression, substance misuse or mental health challenges can lead youth to contention and even devastating outcomes,” said Kea Norrell-Aitch, co-investigator on the grant and MSU Extension healthy living educator based in Macomb County. “Our program helps others learn how to identify teens on the verge of or in the midst of a crisis and connect them to the support that is needed.”

Through the STOP grant, MSU Extension and NCSS are working to build a statewide, community-based infrastructure of Mental Health First Aid responders. Mental Health First Aid is an international, evidence-based training that teaches participants how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis and help someone who may be experiencing one. Grounded in messages of hope and recovery, this program helps break down the misinformation surrounding mental health and helps trainees understand how they can play a role in the “first response” to mental health challenges. As part of the grant, MSU Extension teaches Youth Mental Health First Aid to adults working with youth, as well as teen Mental Health First Aid to teens themselves.

“By training teenagers, as well as their teachers, school staff, and others in their daily lives how to recognize and support someone facing a mental health challenge, we are creating a first line of support for the mental health crisis,” said Darien Wilkerson, an MSU Extension 4-H healthy living educator based in Genesee County, who supports the grant. “These individuals can play a pivotal role in helping people in crisis and those just needing some extra support.”

In particular, Youth and teen Mental Health First Aid curricula introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent behavior, and teaches a five-step action plan for help to young people in crisis and non-crisis situations. The five-step plan uses the acronym ALGEE to help those in need: Assessing for risk of suicide or harm, Listening nonjudgmentally, Giving reassurance and information, Encouraging appropriate professional help, and Encouraging self-help and other support strategies. To date, MSU Extension has delivered Youth Mental Health First Aid to 118 individuals who serve youth audiences and teen Mental Health First Aid to 506 Michigan youth as part of the STOP grant.

“The impact that these Mental Health First Aid responders will have as a result of their training is really immeasurable,” said Cox. “They may help a student, a friend, a classmate or even themselves avoid hurting themselves or others and that is invaluable.”

The work of MSU Extension and NCSS is not over yet. They will continue to train additional professionals and peers across the state throughout the remainder of the grant, with a goal of serving 1,200 students. To inquire about bringing this program to your school or youth organization, contact Norrell-Aitch at kea@msu.edu. Learn more about Mental Health First Aid at the program website. Visit the 4-H Healthy Youth website to learn more about 4-H healthy living programs for youth.