Typical or Troubled?™ School Mental Health Education Grants

Introduction

Established by the American Psychiatric Foundation (APF), a philanthropic and educational subsidiary of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the Typical or Troubled?™ School Mental Health Education Grant Program provides funding to implement the Typical or
Troubled?™ School Mental Health educational model in communities nationwide. Community organizations, high schools and school districts are eligible to receive funding.

Typical or Troubled?™ is an educational program, designed for school personnel (teachers, coaches guidance counselors, etc…) to raise their awareness of mental disorders in teens. The program focuses on promoting the importance of early recognition and treatment, recognizing the early warning signs of mental health problems, and encouraging action and appropriate referral to a mental health professional.

While adolescence is a difficult time for many teens, there is a difference between "typical" and "troubled" behavior - mental health problems in teens are real, painful and, left untreated, can have serious consequences. For some teens, adolescence can be the period of their lives when mental health problems appear. These problems can interfere with the way teens think, feel, and act. In fact, 90% of people who develop a mental health problem show warning signs during their teen years. When left untreated, mental health problems can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug and alcohol abuse, trouble with the law and suicide.

Mental health disorders that can affect teenagers can include depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder) and eating disorders.

The Role of Teachers and School Personnel

The foundation conducted extensive research on how best to address teen mental health. Research shows that adults close to teens - especially school personnel - are motivated to help and want to learn to recognize the "warning signs" of mental health problems in teens as well as understand how to take action and refer the teen to a mental health professional.

School personnel can play an important role in advancing teen mental health. They see teens every day, observe teens over time and are aware of teen behavior. Schools are an ideal place for a coordinated effort of educators, families and mental health professionals focused on understanding and improving teen mental health.

The Typical or Troubled?™ program includes a compendium of educational materials. These materials were developed in partnership with local high school personnel (e.g. teachers, school social workers, school counselors, parents, mental health professionals and educators), and reviewed for medical accuracy. Some materials can be customized for local use to reflect pertinent community information and cultural competence.

The educational presentation is the core of the program and is designed to be presented by teachers, administrators, counselors, or school social workers in partnership with psychiatrists or other mental health professionals. Based upon school personnel input and other APF research and analysis, the Typical or Troubled?™ educational materials focus on the following elements:

• What the problem is, the impact on the child and school community, why getting appropriate care and treatment is critical, and the difference between typical and troubled behavior.
• The role school personnel can play in helping a teen get help - and why taking action and referring is important
• An overview of how the referral system might work in the school and who is involved
• An overview of mental disorders and the key warning signs
• How to talk to a teen, parent, or school counselor

Program materials will be made available for grant recipient's use and will include:

• Educational training presentation for teachers and school personnel (power point slides with scripted notes)
• Brochure about teen mental health
• Program evaluation form

Application Information

The American Psychiatric Foundation is seeking applications from Community organizations, high schools and school districts. Applicants can apply to implement the Typical or Troubled?™ training program at high schools in their community. Grant support is as follows:

For implementation at two to five high schools - Grant in the amount of $2,500

For implementation at six or more high schools - Grant in the amount of $5,000

All applicants are required to complete the application form (linked at the bottom of the page).

Timeline

Where to Send Applications

Applications must be sent to one of the Foundation's two national partner organizations listed below. You must include one original and five copies of your application. Applications may not be submitted by e-mail. Any application that is sent via e-mail will not be reviewed.

Applicants who are not affiliated with one of the organizations listed below may choose one of the two organizations to receive their application. Questions should be directed to the organization you plan to send your application to.

• American School Counselors Association
  Attn: Jill Cook, Assistant Director
  1101 King Street, Suite 625
  Alexandria, VA 22314

• School Social Work Association of America
  Attn: Susan L. Ellis, National Executive Director
  3921 N. Meridian Street, Suite 225
  Indianapolis, IN 46208

For More Information:

Frequently Asked Questions
Sample Training Slides
Download Application Form

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