Community brief

Mental health assistance program

Fremont Union High School District is one of three districts in Santa Clara County that will implement a Mental Health First Aid pilot program. The County Board of Supervisors approved $250,000 in initial funding for the program last month as part of its 2021-22 budget.

The pilot program will also be implemented in the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District and the Palo Alto Unified School District. Mary Gloner, CEO of Palo Alto-based Project Safety Net, said she hopes the program can expand to the rest of the county once other communities see the impact of the pilot.

The county partnered with Project Safety Net and Momentum for Health for the program, a peer-to-peer training course that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health concerns, mental illnesses and substance use disorders like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and addictions. Participants learn about local mental health resources, support groups and online tools, and gain the skills needed to reach out and provide help to someone who is experiencing a crisis or may be developing a mental health or substance use problem.

Training will also be provided to parents, guardians and educators.

Gloner said the demand for peer-to-peer support services in Santa Clara County has been growing for some time. “Since I joined Project Safety Net five years ago, I have heard repeatedly from young people that they would like to be better prepared to help their friends and classmates when dealing with a mental health issue,” she added.