Echo Resource Development
Echo Resource Development
Empowering and connecting people and the organizations that serve them.

Health

Psychosomatic - Environmental

Through education, resource development and coordination 
​we are empowering and connecting people to build safe, healthy communities.

“The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic, or hospital.” ~Mark Hyman

Calendar & Registration
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Adult Mental Health First Aid
MHFA: Higher Education
MHFA: Public Safety
MHFA: Older Adults
Social Emotional Learning
Trauma, Resilience & Community
Youth Mental Health First Aid

1 in 5 

teens & young adults live with a mental HEALTH CONDITION. Source: National Alliance for Mental Illness

5.13% 

of youth report having a substance use or ALCOHOL PROBLEM.

Source: Mental Health America

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health USA is an 8-hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The USA curriculum is primarily focused on information participants can use to help adolescents and transition-age youth, ages 12-18.


The course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling – rather, participants learn to support a youth developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan:

    Assess for risk of suicide or harm
    Listen non-judgmentally
    Give reassurance and information
    Encourage appropriate professional help
    Encourage self-help and other support strategies
Adult Mental Health First Aid

About 

1 in 5 

adults lives with a mental HEALTH Illness. 

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

On average, there are

123 

suicides each day.

Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Adult Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common supports. This 8-hour course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to offer initial help in a mental health crisis and connect persons to the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help care. The program also teaches the common risk factors and warning signs of specific types of illnesses, like anxiety, depression, substance use, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.

Mental Health First Aid is included on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).

Like CPR, this program prepares participants to interact with a person in crisis and connect the person with help. First Aid trainees do not take on the role of professionals — they do not diagnose or provide any counseling or therapy. Instead, the program offers concrete tools and answers key questions, like “what do I do?” and “where can someone find help?” Certified Mental Health First Aid instructors provide a list of community healthcare providers and national resources, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support. All trainees receive a program manual to compliment the course material.
MHFA: Higher Education

Research shows nearly 

1 in 5 

university students is affected with ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION.

Source: The Conversation via the American College Health Association

In the spring of 2017, nearly 

40%

 of college students reported they had felt so depressed in the prior year that it was difficult for them to function. 

Source: Time via American College Health Association

MHFA: Higher Education

Mental Health First Aid for Higher Education teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This 8-hour training — which focuses on the unique experiences and needs of college students — gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. 


Mental illnesses and substance use challenges often present during adolescence and young adulthood, when many individuals are students at colleges and universities. College and university faculty, staff and students can learn how to help each other within a framework of their unique culture and set of resources. This curriculum module will help existing Adult Mental Health First Aid instructors reach this important population with updated prevalence data, a new film and scenarios.


The course will teach you how to apply the ALGEE action plan.



MHFA: Public Safety

228 

Police Officers died by suicide in 2019 compared to 

132 

who died in the line of duty.

Source: Blue H.E.L.P.

 1.2 million individuals living with mental illness are in jail and prison each year.

Source: Mental Health America

MHFA: Public Safety

Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This 8-hour training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental  health or health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. It focuses on the unique experiences and needs of public safety personnel and is a valuable resource that can make a difference in their lives, their coworkers’ and families’ lives, and the communities they serve.

What it covers:
  • Defusing crises.
  •  Promoting mental health literacy.
  • Combating stigma of mental illness.
  • Enabling early intervention through recognition of signs and symptoms.
  • Connecting people to care.
  • ALGEE action plan.
MHFA: Older Adults

About

15%  

of adults aged 60 and over have a MENTAL DISORDER  

Source: World Health Organization

More than 

1 million

 people aged 65 or older had a Substance Use Disorder IN 2014. Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

MHFA: Older Adults

Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults is an 8-hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adults over the age of 65, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an older adult in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect older adults to professional, peer, social, and self-help care.


What will participants learn?

The course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among older adults, like depression and anxiety. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling – rather, participants learn to support an older person developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in an emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan ALGEE.

Who should take the course?

The course is designed for adults who regularly interact with older people (caretakers, nursing staff, etc.). Since 2008, the core Mental Health First Aid course has been successfully offered to hundreds of thousands of people across the USA, including hospital staff, employers and business leaders, faith communities, law enforcement, and the general public. 

Social Emotional Learning

Social Emotional Learning

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is how children and adults learn to understand and manage emotions, set goals, show empathy for others, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.  


With more than 20 years experience working in education, children's mental health and juvenile justice Echo understands the complex factors that impact the physical, emotional, mental and social/behavioral well-being of students and the burden placed upon teachers and schools. Through consulting, traditional and job-embedded professional development we integrate trauma informed social and emotional policies, procedures and practices into school and organizational climate and culture. 

Trauma, Resilience & Community

Trauma, Resilience & Community

Through education/professional development and consulting we help build trauma informed systems that can reduce the impact of trauma on individuals, families, communities and organizations, often expressed through physical, emotional, mental and social/behavioral disruption.  In addition we help promote the adoption of protective factors that promote resilience and health.


Check out the video to learn  more about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES).


Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Trauma is highly prevalent, can impact a person at any time during their lifespan and may present as mental health, substance use or physical health conditions. (SAMHSA)

Who We've Trained

Echo  and  Willow Tree Counseling Center  have partnered to expand professional development, resources and other supports throughout Maryland and surrounding states.