Biggs: Empowerment Systems holding series of mental health first aid classes

Beginning Jan. 28, Empowerment Systems will hold a series of mental health first aid classes at the Apache Junction Multi-Generational Center through a partnership with Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens.

The first series of classes will be Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (And Other Older Adults Helping Raise Kids).

This introductory session will be from 8:30 a.m. to  11:45 a.m., covering topics from "Mental Health First Aid Can Help You, Drugs, Alcohol and Mental Health Issues Affecting Your Grandchildren," and grandparents' rights and other legal issues. This free session is open for anyone who fits that criteria and wants to learn more. For more information, visit empowermentmhfa.eventbrite.com or call Empowerment Systems at 480-367-6937.

Mental health is a growing concern in Pinal County and across the country. The Arizona Department of Health Services reports that more than 20% of Arizonans ages 18-25 reported having a mental illness and only 10.4% were seeking treatment (2019 Arizona Health Assessment).

The Centers for Disease Control reports that 25 states reported a 30% increase in suicide attempts in 2016 and 68 adults completed suicide in Pinal County. We say “completed” vs. “committed” as there is a negative stigma to the word “committed.” One commits a crime but doesn’t commit an end to their life.

As a society, we often only see the issue and not the person experiencing the issue. The 68 people who ended their life equates to a 68% increase since 2006 in our county.

Across the country, we’ve seen a large increase in school-aged children attempting and completing suicide. The ADHS reports that 36.4% of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks in a row within the past twelve months. This feeling causes a loss in productivity and has begun to impact their daily life and can eventually lead to substance abuse disorder or even a suicide attempt.

Tobacco sales ban for under 21

On Jan. 1, the federal government implemented into law a tobacco sales ban on anyone under the age of 21. This is something that Empowerment Systems feels is long overdue.

There are arguments being made that the economy will take a hit, but we pose the question “At what point to do step in to help save our kids from substance use disorders or worse death?”

While marijuana is not legally sold here, ADHS reports 8.1% of eighth graders, 27% of 10th graders and 23.3% of 12th graders report using marijuana in the past 12 months. 67.4% of students obtained marijuana from friends. 7.1% of high school-aged students report that they currently smoke cigarettes and 5.3% report use of electronic vapes or E-cigarettes.

So, what do we do? How does Empowerment Systems fit into a solution? Over the next several months, you will see more mental health first aid classes being taught all over Pinal County. We’ve forged partnerships in both Pinal and Maricopa County and are ready to roll out our solution.

Our staff has been trained in both adult and youth mental health first aid, and with that training are able to conduct the eight-hour trainings in both areas of focus across the county and state.

It is our goal at Empowerment Systems to teach at least 10 classes per year throughout our service area. Each class can have up to 30 people in it meaning that if we are successful, we can bring mental health first aid training to some 300 individuals. Through this training, those individuals will be better equipped to help our community identify and encourage helpful solutions through the ALGEE method taught by the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Together, with mental health first aid training, we can equip our community with the knowledge they need to help shed light on the growing epidemic.

For more information, contact Empowerment Systems at 480-367-6937 or via email at info@empowermentsystems.org. Be on the lookout for more information about upcoming training opportunities through our website or Facebook account.

Braden Biggs
Director of Communications and Program Development
Empowerment Systems
Apache Junction