Nearly one out of every five members of the Paso del Norte community have a behavioral health disorder and of those nearly 25% are living with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse disorder. While these figures fall in line with other communities, factors such as high levels of individuals with little or no health insurance coverage pose unique challenges in our border region. The stigma associated with the treatment of mental health in the Hispanic and military cultures can also make it difficult for individuals to seek out treatment and learn how to manage their illness. Mental illness however is just like other medical conditions, the earlier the treatment begins the better the outcome for the person and their families.
Therefore, mental health education and awareness is key in our community. Through the Emergence Health Network Mental Health Learning Library training courses, we can ensure our residents understand what mental illness is and learn that managing the diagnosis and recovery is possible.
Whether it is a comprehensive Mental Health First Aid course or more targeted training on suicide prevention, grief management, or stress reduction the Mental Health Learning Library provides knowledge to recognize signs and symptoms of behavioral health concerns and how to seek out appropriate services. All classes are available in English and Spanish.
Courses Include:
6.5-hour course face to face or 4-hour course virtual / with 1-1.5 online prework (Available in English and Spanish*)
*the Spanish version is only available in person.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help an
adolescent who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The 8-hour course covers a
range of common disorders and potential crises such as helping a young person who is having a panic attack, is
contemplating suicide, or is struggling with substance abuse challenges.
Objectives:
Youth Mental Health First Aid certification teaches participants to:
- Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among
adolescents, including: depression, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavioral disorders,
and substance use disorders. - Use a 5-step action plan to help a young person in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.
- Interpret the prevalence of various mental health disorders in youth within the U.S. and the need for reduced
negative attitudes in their communities. - Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help a young
person with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery. - Assess their own views and feelings about youth mental health problems and disorders.
Click HERE to register for the Mental Health First Aid Youth course.
6.5-hour course face to face or 4-hour course virtual / with 1-1.5 online prework (Available in English and Spanish*)
*the Spanish version is only available in person. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as CPR training helps a layperson without medical training assist an individual following a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind Mental Health First Aid demonstrates that it makes people feel more comfortable managing a crisis and builds mental health literacy — helping the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. Specifically, studies found that those who trained in Mental Health First Aid have greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help, improved concordance with health professionals about treatments, and decreased stigmatizing attitudes. Objectives: Mental Health First Aid certification, which must be renewed every three years, provides trainees with the ability to:- Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety/trauma, psychosis and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.
- Use a 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.
- Interpret the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in their communities.
- Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help someone with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery.
40-hour course face to face (Available in English)
The CIT 40-hour training has been approved by TCOLE and designed specifically for law enforcement officers. This course involves the participation of local law enforcement academies, the subject matter experts in the local mental health authority and other organizations that contribute to a holistic approach in the topic of mental health and crisis. *This module must be coordinated with the local law enforcement academies to provide TCOLE credit to participants. Objectives: Mental Health First Aid certification, which must be renewed every three years, provides trainees with the ability to:- Developing a Basic Understanding of CIT
- Defining and discussing the Meaning and Implications of Crisis
- Increasing Awareness of mental Illness and Associated Adversity
- Mental Health Conditions Most Commonly Encountered by Law Enforcement Officers
- Effective Communication Skills to Aid in Working with a Possible Mental Health Crisis
- Deinstitutionalization, Crime and Homelessness as they Relate to Mental Health Issues
- Legal Considerations for a Police Officer Intervening During a Mental Health
- Jail Diversion Programs and Alternative Options
- Accessing Mental Health Resources in Your Area
1-hour course face to face or virtual (Available in English and Spanish)
Self-injury is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It is typically not meant as a suicide attempt. Rather, this type of self-injury is a harmful way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger, and frustration. While self-harm may bring a momentary sense of calm and a release, it is usually followed by guilt and shame and the return of painful emotions. Objectives: Mental Health First Aid certification, which must be renewed every three years, provides trainees with the ability to:- Discuss non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)
- Provide examples of NSSI, factors that contribute, and signs associated with the behavior are studied.
- Myths vs. Facts, Statistics, Finding the issue, Getting Help, Common Reactions, Stigma, Helpful vs. Nonhelpful.
- Also, recommendations on how to respond to a young person who may be struggling with these habits are provided.
1-hour course face to face or virtual (Available in English and Spanish)
Anxiety is a normal human experience. We all experience anxiety from time to time. Unlike stress that comes and goes with external factors, anxiety is something that can be ongoing and long-lasting. It can often appear to come out of nowhere and may leave you feeling confused when feelings of anxiety remain with you long after a stressful event has passed. Objectives:- Discuss what anxiety is and what signs and symptoms are common.
- Discuss what are some things that contribute to feelings of anxiety.
- Differentiate anxiety disorders form common anxiety feelings.
- Discuss some beneficial comping strategies that participants can implement to manage anxiety.
- Discuss resources, and professional help for people struggling with anxiety disorders.
1-hour course face to face or virtual (Available in English and Spanish)
The loss of a loved one can be a traumatic and life-changing experience. There are not many educative tools available today that cover the complex subject. This module introduces the pillars of the Grief Recovery Method, which is an educative intervention that may help the participant find a sense of completeness. This one-hour module allows participants to define loss, mourning, grief, and bereavement. Objectives:- Discuss what loss, and grief is.
- Discuss some common barriers, and stigma associated with grief.
- Discuss resources, and professional help for people struggling with grief challenges.
- Discuss the Grief Recovery Method, process, and how to participate.
Emergence Health Network offers its Training Affiliation Partner (TAP) Program through its Mental Health Learning Library. TAP will partner selected community agencies who regularly conduct community trainings and presentations with the resources of the EHN, which is the Local Mental Health Authority in the El Paso community.
One of EHN’s priorities is providing El Paso residents with the highest quality of educational resources. From Mental Health First Aid to specialized trainings for educators and law enforcement officers. The need for community training is great, and there are many organizations presenting valuable information to El Pasoans. The TAP Program allows EHN to collaborate with fellow agencies to be more effective in our efforts.
Hospice El Paso Training
Understanding the Grieving Process – 1 hour course
Agenda: For the individual to understand that grief is individualize, personal ongoing process.
Learning Objectives:
- Providing an understanding of what grief is
- How loss affects people in different ways.
- Learning to care for self while grieving.
- Understanding the healing process.
To schedule email Diana Contreras at diana.contreras@hospicelepaso.org
Alzheimer’s Association Training
The Alzheimer’s Association offers several Alzheimer’s and dementia programs available online, 24 hours a day. Please click on the link a below for more to direct you to the number of classes available.
Popular courses include:
- 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
- Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Effective Communication Strategies and more
NAMI El Paso Training
NAMI El Paso has a number of offerings for the community of El Paso. A popular offering is NAMI Basics which consist of a 6-session course for adult parents and caregivers of children and adolescents formally or not yet diagnosed with a mental health condition. These may include ADD/ADHD, autism spectrum, depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and other mental health conditions. Caregivers of children and adolescents affected by a mental health condition teach this 2½-hour course.
This is just one of the many training courses available to learn more visit NAMI El Paso
Paso Del Norte Center of Hope Training
Human Trafficking Assessment Tool for Educators is one of the many tools available designed to help educators identify the risk factors and indicators of human trafficking in their students and to offer guidelines on how to respond and access resources. This protocol does not substitute for internal or mandated reporting requirements and does not guarantee safety.
To access this and the many training courses available through the PDNCOH visit Paso del Norte Center of Hope
Texas A & M AgriLife Extension El Paso
Wellness is often considered as a combination of mental and physical maintenance. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension El Paso offers the community free Cooking Well with Diabetes or Health Blood Pressure courses. These are 3 to 4 lesson long modules where the participant will learn to recognize what food are considered carbohydrates, planning balanced and satisfying meals, reducing fats in recipes, increasing use of healthier fats, improving sodium & fiber content in recipes, and celebrating holidays sensibly.
To schedule a lesson or to learn more email Dr. Angelee Shamaley at Angelee.shamaley@ag.tamu.edu
