In North Carolina, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people ages 10–18, according to the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
That’s why the University of North Carolina System is expanding its Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) initiative to serve K-12 students. Up to 420 future teachers and principals in the NC Teaching Fellows and Principal Fellows programs will be trained in Youth MHFA in the coming academic year.
The announcement coincides with National Suicide Prevention Week, which runs Sept. 7-13, and is an annual campaign to educate the public about suicide prevention and warning signs.
“We have a responsibility to serve all North Carolinians, and that means strengthening student mental health earlier in their educational journey,” said Suzie Baker, assistant vice president for student affairs for the UNC System. “Reaching K-12 students begins with preparing our teachers and school leaders. Our role is to ensure future educators can recognize signs of mental health challenges and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to support young people when they need it most.”
Since its launch in 2021, the System’s MHFA program — developed in partnership with the North Carolina Community College System and the state’s private universities — has trained more than 10,000 students, faculty, and staff with evidence-based techniques to assist adults experiencing a mental health crisis. More than 400 of those individuals are now certified to teach MHFA.
“The training helped me recognize early warning signs of mental distress, gave me language to approach difficult conversations, and equipped me with confidence to respond rather than freeze in the moment,” said Sherri Rajesh, a graduate student at Appalachian State University who completed MHFA training as an undergraduate.
Today, Rajesh serves as a graduate assistant for residence life while she pursues her master’s degree in social work from App State. She recalls helping one overwhelmed and depressed student, moving them away from isolation and toward community resources and support. She assisted another through a panic attack during finals week.
Rajesh applauds any effort to reach K-12 students with mental health support, especially as young people learn to deal with increasing academic and life stressors.
“If future teachers are trained in MHFA, they’ll be better prepared, not only to spot signs of distress, but to help normalize mental health conversations in their classrooms,” Rajesh said. “That early support can be life-changing.”
UNC System staff, including Baker, will lead several youth MHFA trainings for hundreds of individuals in both the Teaching Fellows and Principal Fellows programs over the coming academic year. The sessions will be paid for by both programs and offered at no cost to the fellows.
