Cape May County initiative empowers adolescents as initial responders in mental health emergencies
In a bid to address the growing mental health crisis among adolescents, the Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMFHA) program is being implemented in high schools across Cape May County, New Jersey. This initiative, funded by the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is led by Cape Assist, a nonprofit based in Wildwood, New Jersey.
The tMFHA program, created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing in partnership with Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, equips students with a five-step process to notice, ask, listen, connect to a trusted adult, and reinforce friendship. The program, which is free and embedded in the sophomore core curriculum of Cape May County high schools, has already trained over 75% of students in Lower Cape May Regional High School and Cape May Tech.
Other schools that have joined the initiative include Wildwood High School, Middle Township High School, and Wildwood Catholic. Word of the program has spread among students themselves, leading to more schools adopting it.
The program has shown significant gains in student preparedness. After training completion, there is a 31% increase in student confidence recognizing signs of a mental health challenge. There is also a nearly 50% increase in student ability to help in a substance use crisis. Moreover, there is a 24% increase in student knowledge of where to send a friend for help.
One student, Samantha Benigno, who had mental health issues, feels that it's okay to not be okay after taking the tMFHA program. She learned the importance of finding a trusted adult and putting her mental health first.
Cape Assist's leaders believe that the sooner someone connects with someone struggling, the sooner they will start to feel better. The program is aimed at shifting the culture and normalizing mental health challenges.
The tMFHA program comes at a crucial time. According to a 2021 Pride survey, 22% of 11th graders in Cape May County had seriously considered harming themselves or others. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 20% of children aged 12 to 17 in the U.S. reported symptoms of anxiety, while 18% reported symptoms of depression.
The program's leader, Katie Faldetta, the Executive Director of Cape Assist, is optimistic about the long-term goal of training 75% of the county's high school students. Other nonprofits in northern New Jersey offering teen Mental Health First Aid training include the Mental Health Association in New Jersey and the New Jersey Prevention Network.
As the tMFHA program continues to expand, it offers hope for a generation of young people struggling with mental health issues. By equipping students to support their friends who may be struggling, the program is making a real difference in the lives of many.
