Faculty, staff, and students receive training on mental health supported by a donor gift.
Over the past several years, the mental health of college students has received greater attention, particularly regarding its impact on students’ academic success.
In 2022, the Center for Collegiate Mental Health’s Annual Report highlighted that mental health distress is one of the most common reasons for students delaying or withdrawing from higher education degree programs. Additionally, the national Healthy Minds Network Data Report (2022-2023) found that 81 percent of college students reported that their mental health negatively impacted their academic performance from one to six or more days during the past month.
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) students participated in the Healthy Minds survey during this time period. Of the UMB respondents, 76 percent reported that their mental health negatively impacted their academic performance from one to six or more days over the previous month.
To address the impact of student mental health concerns, several universities are embracing public health approaches. One approach is to train members of the university community on how to best support students who are in mental health distress. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a national program that educates participants on how to recognize individuals in mental health distress and respond to them in a safe and compassionate manner.
MHFA originally was developed in Australia to provide participants with training, similar to medical first aid, to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Since the initial development, the course has been adapted internationally and offered in virtual, in-person, and blended formats.
MHFA has been tailored to train specific participant groups such as higher education faculty and staff, public safety officers, and emergency responders. The course uses real-life scenarios and shares national, university, and community mental health resources. While the course is designed to train participants on how to assist other people in mental health distress, many participants find the training to be personally helpful as well.
The UMB Student Counseling Center (SCC) recognizes the need to equip UMB faculty, staff, and students with tools to better support students based on the increased prevalence of their health concerns.
Patricia Attman, MD, one of our longtime psychiatrists who recently retired, always has been an advocate for increased mental health resources for our students. After learning about the benefits of MHFA training, Attman helped set up a fund for MHFA training at UMB to which she contributes an annual gift.
“Dr. Attman has a record of fiercely and consistently advocating and supporting students, which has extended into her retirement from the University,” said Patty Alvarez, PhD, MS, chief student affairs officer and vice president. “Dr. Attman’s generosity will help to equip students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to assist students in distress.”
Although some UMB faculty and staff are certified as MHFA trainers and have offered periodic MHFA training, the need to train more of the UMB community required additional MHFA instructors. In response, Attman partnered with the SCC to create a fund for MHFA training for the UMB community.
A generous reccurring gift from Attman sponsored two SCC staff members — Oscar Cortina, LCPC, and Tierra Major Kearney, MS — to become certified as MHFA instructors and to continue to offer MHFA trainings to the UMB community at a reduced cost for participants.
Since spring 2024, SCC has offered six MHFA trainings to 58 participants and is collaborating with several UMB schools to expand the training to reach even more UMB students. Student participants have greatly valued receiving the MHFA training.
“This course was so excellent!” one student participant said. “The trainers were very engaging despite this being virtual. They were knowledgeable and provided so much room for conversations and reflections. It was a really balanced course One student participant said, , and I am glad I attended.”
The provision of MHFA to UMB faculty, staff, and students is a key component to responding to students in psychological distress and building a Universitywide community of care and compassion.
Attman and the SCC staff would like to continue to expand this program to include all members of the UMB community. If individuals would like to support this program, please visit this website to make a contribution.
Gifts in support of the MHFA Training Program are managed through the Office of Student Affairs Fund and administered by the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 organization, and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.