Empowering schools with a 'Network of Safety' for suicide prevention

Through PCCD’s School Safety and Mental Health Grants, the Josh Shapiro Admin has invested over $190M to help Pennsylvania schools strengthen security, expand mental health supports, and foster safe learning environments across Pennsylvania. These grants have supported: · Crisis and threat management training · Mental health staff and student supports · Building improvements to enhance safety “Every child deserves to learn in an environment where they feel safe, supported, and seen. That’s exactly what these investments help make possible.” — Austin Davis Learn more about PCCD funding at https://lnkd.in/enQYQgPb #GrantImpact #SchoolSafetyWeek #PASchoolFunding #AmericasSafeSchoolsWeek

Being a first responder has become more demanding over the years in terms of the skills needed, the frequency of calls for many jurisdictions, and broadening responsibilities given to teams. Skills require training, and increased workloads lead to increased mental stress. I'll try to help with both. The University of Minnesota's School of Public Health has a free course on psychological first aid (https://lnkd.in/gEYkvEXV) and an introduction on trauma-informed care (https://lnkd.in/g5uYtJU8), which can help responders in treating patients they encounter on a calls and also help build peer support programs within their own units. They also contain self-assessment and care guides for responders. I found them useful and in line with previous in-person training that I received in previous SAR teams. Better training and better care lead to better outcomes. If you've made it to the end of this post, then it's clear the image of K9 Koosah was an effective lure. #firstaid #teambuilding #peersupport

Privileged to attend a comprehensive workshop on Mental Health and Physiological First Aid. The session reinforced an essential truth: effective leadership in academia and healthcare goes beyond administration—it requires awareness, empathy, and a proactive approach to supporting the emotional and physical well-being of our community. This learning experience highlighted how structured preparedness, timely intervention, and informed decision-making can strengthen institutional support systems. As educators and administrators, it is our responsibility to cultivate environments where mental health conversations are normalized and physiological first aid skills are embedded into everyday practice. Grateful for this opportunity to enhance my understanding and contribute more thoughtfully to the well-being and resilience of the students, colleagues, and communities we serve.

#STEERTracking has been supporting #PupilMentalHealth for 10 YEARS 🙌 A secondary school* using STEER Tracking for the past 5 YEARS would have…. 📉 Reduced the mental health risks of over 450 vulnerable pupils   🎯 Provided targeted, personalised Action Plans to over 1,000 pupils 👩🏫 Built confidence to intervene in mental health concerns amongst 5x more of its teachers 📄 Delivered 10 bi-annual Governors reports evidencing progress towards school mental health goals without adding to any staff workload ⏳ Reduced the waiting time from 1 year to 1 week for a student with a hidden mental health need to receive personalised support 📚 Allowed 250 high-performing pupils to sit their public exams in a calmer state of mind 💬 Enabled the hidden voice of over 4,000 young people to be heard and listened to by their tutor *based on a school of 800 Y7-13 pupils Here's to STEER Tracking helping many more schools support many thousands more pupils over the next 5 years 🤝. #DecadeofSTEER #ProactiveTargetedSignposting #STEERschools #WholeSchoolApproach Department for Education | Department of Health and Social Care | Public Health England | Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition (CYPMHC) | The Rt. Hon. Wes Streeting MP | Tes | Luke Ramsden FRSA | Paddy Crump | Dr Alex George

This is a compelling statistic:  "Reduced the waiting time from 1 year to 1 week for a student with a hidden mental health need to receive personalised support". The Department for Education has identified since 2018 that early identification and support is the most strategic way to reduce pressure on the system. Knowing who to help, when and how earlier, in small, targeted, practical ways in school KEEPS CHILDREN IN SCHOOL. Here's a tool that does that 💡 📢

95 youth sports coaches completing their training in Suicide Prevention as part of Project STAY with Renown Health and Emma White. The momentum is growing, ensuring young athletes have the support they need to thrive both on and off the field. Just like CPR training equips individuals to respond in medical emergencies, this training empowers coaches to recognize and respond to mental health concerns.

Supporting Young People in Care: Key Insights I’ve put together a small, focused presentation for social workers and professionals that highlights the main points about supporting looked after children and young people. It covers understanding trauma, recognising abuse and exploitation, challenging stigma, and adopting trauma-informed approaches. The aim is to provide practical, essential guidance that helps professionals respond with empathy, consistency, and care making a real difference in the lives of young people in care. Please note: This presentation does not constitute official training. It is a focused session sharing insights from my lived experience as a LAC and now care experienced advocate, aimed at highlighting key points and practical guidance for professionals supporting young people in care.

We’re proud to share that CAC has received a $73,740 grant from the @Otto Bremer Trust, distributed by @United Way of Dane County, to expand our mental health programming across South Central Wisconsin. 💙 This investment from Otto Bremer Trust is more than a grant — it’s a commitment to the well-being of our community. Mental health continues to be one of the top concerns in our schools and neighborhoods, and this support allows CAC to respond directly to that need. With this funding, CAC will continue to lead Mental Health First Aid and QPR Suicide Prevention trainings for youth and adults into the 2026 year, helping more people recognize warning signs, de-escalate crises, and connect others to care. Over the next year, we’ll provide: ✨ 36 in-person classes for youth (ages 12–18) ✨ 100 adult classes for teachers, staff, and first responders A heartfelt thank you to Otto Bremer Trust for investing in both CAC and the health of our communities, and to United Way of Dane County for administering these funds and being a trusted partner in this work. Interested in joining a class or spreading the word? Share this post and follow CAC on LinkedIn for updates. #MentalHealthMatters #CommunityAction #OttoBremerTrust #UnitedWayDaneCounty #YouthWellbeing #StrongerTogether #CACSCW