Project AWARE Kent, a new three-year program at Â鶹¾«Ñ¡, is an initiative to raise awareness about mental health and substance abuse disorders. Project AWARE Kent will be offering Mental Health First Aid courses to Â鶹¾«Ñ¡students, faculty and staff in an effort to create a network of people at Â鶹¾«Ñ¡who will know how to respond to and are aware of mental health and substance abuse disorders. The course is an evidence-based training that teaches people to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. The two-day (four hours each day) course is free, and student participants earn 1,500 FLASHperks for completing the course.
What will I learn?
- Risk factors and signs of addictions and mental illness

- Information about and impact of mental and substance use disorders
- Five-step action plan to assess a situation and help

- Local resources and where to turn for help
Mental Health First Aid courses being offered spring 2016:
- March 4 and March 11: 1:30-5:30 p.m.
- April 1 and April 8: 1:30-5:30 p.m.
- April 9 and April 16: 1-5 p.m.
- April 21 and April 28: 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Why become a Mental Health First Aider?
- Be prepared - when a mental health crisis happens
- You can help - people with mental illnesses often suffer alone
- You care - be there for a friend, family member or colleague
- Mental illnesses are common - 1 in 5 adults in any given year
Register for this course at www.kent.edu/cpph. For more information, call 330-672-0081 or email klaurene@kent.edu.
