Inclusion in community life positively impacts health and wellbeing, but individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) often experience isolation and lack opportunities to meaningfully engage in their communities. Inadequate community inclusion and participation is associated with higher levels of loneliness and a lower sense of belonging, which are associated with lower health functioning, higher levels of physical pain, and a higher number of psychiatric hospitalizations.
Community inclusion is more than just the presence of people with SMI in community life; it requires environments that welcome and embrace the participation of people with SMI. When people with SMI feel included and a sense of belonging in their communities, they are more able to participate in a variety of social roles, including relationships, employment, education, and recreation. They are also able to develop their identities outside of being a person with SMI, and experience higher quality of life, empowerment, and self-efficacy.
Related Projects
Community-Based Mental Health Education and Awareness in Eastern Washington: Mental Health Awareness Training Grant
Funder: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)
Principal Investigators/Directors: Drs. Liat Kriegel and Oladunni Oluwoye
Our team has been trained to deliver Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid Training. Mental Health First Aid is a standardized educational program used to train service providers and community members in the identification of mental health disorders for youth and adults. With funds obtained from SAMHSA all of our trainings are free to those who reside in Spokane County.
Through these trainings, we hope to:
- Increase community members’ knowledge about and responses to different mental health disorders
- Inform community members about early intervention and community supports
- Reduce stigma surrounding mental health disorders
- Introduce and train service providers on screening tools to identify early psychosis
- Introduce service providers to the WA online referral system for Coordinated Specialty Care programs
Mental Health First Aid Trainers:
Sheldon Stokes, BS – Youth and Adult MHFA Trainer
Julia Paxton, BA – Youth MHFA Trainer
Meagan Johnson, MS – Youth and Adult MHFA Trainer
Elias Sandoval Jr., BS – Youth and Adult MHFA Trainer
If you or your organization want to receive Mental Health First Aid Training, please request a training by clicking the button below.