EDC recognizes that mental health and well-being are the foundation for a productive, satisfying life. Our projects assist schools, health care professionals, and communities in addressing this issue, and stretch across the continuum from prevention to treatment. EDC also researches the relationship between mental health and other risk behaviors, such as substance abuse, violence, and suicide. Among our mental health programs is the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) which provides prevention support, training, and resources to assist organizations and individuals in developing suicide prevention programs, interventions, and policies to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
This national project was designed to strengthen the capacity of child care programs and Head Start to promote the social and emotional development of young children. CC&F/EDC worked on identifying the needs of direct-service staff to better support children’s social and emotional development. Working with partners in universities and national organizations, CC&F/EDC developed and disseminated training materials through national and local networks.
As military personnel return from Iraq and Afghanistan, health care professionals are providing treatment not only for their physical injuries but also for psychological trauma. Employing face-to-face training and video and Web-based materials, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), working with EDC, has trained 900 clinicians to use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an intensive immersion method for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In the last decade, the number of American Indian and Native Alaskan children has doubled, with 34 percent of the total population now under the age of 18. This boom brings hope as well as challenges to tribal communities, where rates of youth delinquency, dropout, alcoholism, and violence are among the highest in the United States.
When her son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, EDC’s Eileen Mackin was shocked at how unfamiliar his school was with handling mental health problems. After years of talking, learning, and advocating, she is now creating resources so other parents and schools can learn from her experiences. With funds from the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation, she has developed a pamphlet for parents on how they can work with their child’s school on mental health issues and is producing a companion pamphlet for schools.
Many active service members and armed service veterans grapple with mental health issues, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidality. These soldiers may be unsure of where to find help or, if they do seek help, may face services that are fragmented or ineffective.
A promising new treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will be used nationally, thanks to an EDC team that collaborated with researchers from the U.S. Veterans Administration on a program to train mental health clinicians in its use.
The National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention in EDC’s Health and Human Development Programs (HHD) is playing a key role in ensuring that California’s landmark mental health prevention initiatives will reach children and youth in schools.
In the hours following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, crisis responders fanned out across the country, bringing help, compassion, and solace to survivors and families of victims. Some professional volunteers drove several hundred miles to assist survivors; all put their lives on hold. Many of the volunteers were organized by the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), which held a conference in April to honor the survivors and victims of the tragedy and to identify the lessons that could be learned from the experiences.
The Making Health Academic project develops and disseminates coordinated school health and strong prevention strategies to administrators, educators, and policymakers around the country.
