PARTICIPANT STATISTICS - YEAR 3
The need for mental health support is clearly demonstrated by the statistics from Year 3 of the program's implementation. Among participants before beginning the program:
These findings highlight the urgent need for accessible mental health skills promotion programs like the MHSC Program to improve the well-being of adults and youth in vulnerable communities.
COMMUNITY FOCUS
The program specifically targets communities that face significant barriers to accessing mental health care:
- Lower-income communities: Where mental health counseling is often unavailable or unaffordable
- Historically Black communities: Where systemic barriers related to the social determinants of health and culture-related stigma toward seeking professional mental health counseling exists
- Food-insecure communities: Where social determinants of health create additional stress and challenges
- Unsafe communities: Where environmental factors contribute to mental health challenges
By focusing participant recruitment on these target communities, we are providing mental health support to the most vulnerable who would otherwise be unlikely to receive those services. Additionally, by recruiting mental health support coaches from these same communities, the program creates a sense of trust and cultural understanding that is essential for effective mental health support.
RECRUITMENT METHODS
The program uses various methods to reach potential participants:
- Community partnerships with churches, schools, and local organizations
- Faith-based infrastructure in which churches are community partners that provide a safe and welcoming safe for participant recruitment and enrollment. Pastors that are part of this infrastructure, called Pastor Scientists, also play a vital role in recruitment efforts and destigmatization of discussing mental health support services
- Word-of-mouth referrals from former participants and coaches, are particularly effective for youth through designated Mental Health Youth Advocates—highly motivated coaches or participants who have been through the MHSC Program
- Social media outreach (Instagram, Facebook)
FUTURE EXPANSION EFFORTS
Based on feedback from Town Halls and community discussions, future programs or future expansions to the MHSC program will consider:
- Programs or program components focusing on individuals who live alone: Who may face increased isolation and mental health challenges
- Programs for Black men or specialized mental health support coach training tracks for Black men: Leveraging peer-invitation models
- Implementing the program in additional communities throughout Florida: Largely through program replication and dissemination efforts