Mental Health

This curriculum teaches home visitors and supervisors how to assess for mental health needs in families, support access to mental health services, and model positive coping strategies. Additionally, home visitors and supervisors will learn techniques to tolerate their own distress and support their own mental health so they more effectively serve their families’ mental health needs. First, home visitors and supervisors will learn how to identify emotions and symptoms of mental distress and how to talk about these symptoms sensitively with families. The role of biological factors, environmental stressors, and protective factors involved in mental health will be discussed, in addition to issues of stigma and safety. Home visitors and supervisors will learn about suicide risk indicators and making effective mental health referrals. Role-playing activities throughout this training day will allow home visitors to practice their skills in supporting individuals and families in seeking mental health services in the community and supervisors’ skills in supporting home visitors.