Oneida County Hosts Training Sessions on “Mental Health First Aid for Military, Veterans, and their Families”

The Oneida County Department of Mental Health coordinated three separate sessions of “Mental Health First Aid for Military, Veterans and their Families (MHFA-MVF)” on August 27, August 28, and August 29, 2024, instructed by Michael Middaugh of the Tioga County Veterans’ Service Agency.

MHFA-MVF is an evidenced based and early intervention training program developed for adults to learn how to assist and support members of their community who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. It specifically addresses the relevance of mental health to military culture, information on risk factors such as mental and physical trauma faced by many service members and their families, how to break down stigma and how to reach out to those who suffer in silence and are reluctant to seek help.

Attendees for the MHFA-MVF sessions included fifty-six (56) individuals from the Oneida County Department of Mental Health, Oneida County Veterans’ Service Agency, Oneida County Emergency Services, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Utica Center for Development, Inc., The Neighborhood Center, Inc., Helio Health, Upstate Caring Partners, YWCA of the Mohawk Valley, Sitrin Military Program, and You Fit Counseling LCSW PLLC.

"For many of our military members, veterans, and their families, the challenges of mental health and substance use are compounded by the unique stresses of military life,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “I am proud to see Oneida County come together through the collaborative efforts of our Department of Mental Health, Tioga County’s Veterans' Service Agency and community partners to provide this critical training. The 'Mental Health First Aid for Military, Veterans, and their Families' program equips those on the frontlines of service with the tools to recognize, understand, and support individuals facing mental health struggles. This effort, supported by the New York Health Foundation, is essential to breaking down stigma and offering help to those who need it most, but who may be reluctant to seek it. Together, we are ensuring that no one suffers in silence, and that our community stands ready to provide the care and understanding our service members and their families deserve."

Support for this work was provided by the New York Health Foundation (NYHealth), through an Agreement with the County of Oneida through its Department of Mental Health, aimed at enhancing Veteran services within the community. The mission of NYHealth is to expand health insurance coverage, increase access to high-quality health care services, and improve public and community health. The views presented here, or in the MHFA-MVF training, are those of the authors/trainers and not necessarily those of the New York Health Foundation or its directors, officers, and staff. https://nyhealthfoundation.org/

The County would also like to remind the community on its Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP), aimed at improving the wellbeing of Veterans and their families to decrease suicidality. The County of Oneida was awarded this grant in 2022 from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

For more information, visit: https://ocgov.net/departments/mental-health/ssgfox/

Shown above is instructor Michael Middaugh from Tioga County Veterans Service Agency and Emily Ofalt, Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health/Grantee Operations Manager for the SSG Fox SPGP for Oneida County