Clinical & Support Options Receives Three-year, $366,813 Grant

NORTHAMPTON — Clinical & Support Options Inc. recently received a $366,813 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in support of “Now Is The Time – Project AWARE,” an initiative from the White House to protect children and communities.

This grant will fund the Rural Awareness and Access Project, which will provide free youth mental-health first-aid trainings across Hampshire County, Franklin County, and the North Quabbin area.

Youth mental-health first aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and others how to help adolescents (ages 12-18) in crisis or experiencing a mental-health or addiction challenge.

Primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, the course introduces common mental-health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a five-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders.

Trainings are expected to begin in early 2016. For more information, contact Allison Garriss, director of Business Development and Projects, at agarriss@csoinc.org