Improving Access to Mental Health Care and Individual Wellbeing for Individuals with Disabilities Through a State-Wide Training Approach

Project Abstract

The Center for Mental Health Promotion, led by Drs. Ty B. Aller and Heather H. Kelley, at Utah State University’s Institute for Disability Research, Policy and Practice (IDRPP) proposes a multipronged training approach to improve access to mental health supports and individual wellbeing among the disability community (i.e., individuals with disabilities, family members, and paraprofessionals serving individuals with disabilities). The CMHP has strategic statewide partners, The Utah Public Health Association, the Healthy Aging Program, the Utah Wellbeing Project, and the Utah Parent Center, that are within, or complementary to, the disability service systems and will help increase the breadth of individuals trained to support the mental health aspects of individuals with disabilities. Each partner will collaborate on content and dissemination of trainings. This proposal outlines a coordinated training effort that will train a minimum of 1,350 individuals across the state (40% of trainees paraprofessionals; 30% rural dwelling). This proposal builds upon previous Interagency Training and Outreach Initiatives led by Dr. Aller. We address the following training goals by delivering Disability 101, the Mental Health Awareness for Action curriculum and Acceptance and Commitment Training programs via accessible, synchronous and asynchronous delivery methods:

• Goal 1: We will increase the knowledge and self-efficacy of 310 health systems workers (e.g., volunteers and paid staff) related to their understanding of disability, community inclusion and community engagement.
• Goal 2: We will increase knowledge and self-efficacy of 600 health systems workers and rural community members related to their mental health literacy.
• Goal 3: We will increase the self-efficacy of 440 individuals from the disability community in using self-help skills to improve wellbeing.

Project Staff