Mental Health for All

Over 1 billion people worldwide are living with a mental health condition. A recent study of 29 countries led by Harvard Medical School and University of Queensland concluded that 1 out of every 2 people globally will experience a mental health challenge. This global mental health crisis is having particularly devastating impacts on youth. Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people. While there is a significant opportunity to intervene early, many youth lack access to mental health care and face stigma that prevents them from seeking help.

EDC’s Mental Health for All international education and skills training package prepares non-clinicians around the world to deliver scalable, effective mental health learning to help youth thrive. The package is designed to be administered to young people by teachers, paraprofessionals, trainers, and other supportive adults who are trained by EDC.

Mental Health for All centers on the belief that every young person is capable of learning effective self-help approaches to maintain good mental health and help prevent mental health disorders from forming or worsening. The education and training package draws on multiple, evidence-based practices that are proven to reduce mental health symptoms, increase coping skills, and improve overall resilience.

Key components include:

• Training in a 16-hour core curriculum on developing emotional awareness; understanding the building blocks of mental health; learning to manage depressed feelings; learning to manage anxious feelings; coping with adversity; controlling anger; and developing a mental health wellness plan.
• Training in optional modules on remaining resilient after trauma; learning to manage emotions without drugs and alcohol; understanding and learning alternatives to violence; preventing and healing from emotional crises; and sleeping better.
• Three delivery options:  Interactive Audio Instruction (radio or tablet); Audio and Video; AV and Touchscreens.
• Monitoring and evaluation, using evidence-based outcome measurement tools to assess specific impacts on youth mental health resulting from the intervention.