IU Fort Wayne School of Nursing lecturer Adaline Cunningham, MSN, RN, PMHC-BC, CNE, is making a significant impact on mental health training in northeast Indiana. With support from a Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council Affinity Giving Grant, Cunningham is leading the integration of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Bridge Building Communications (BBC) training into IU Fort Wayne’s health-related academic programs and extending these trainings to community partners.
Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based program that teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. The course equips attendees with the skills and confidence to provide initial support and connect people to appropriate care.
At IU Fort Wayne, all School of Nursing students already receive Mental Health First Aid training as part of their curriculum, preparing future nurses to recognize and respond to mental health concerns in clinical and community settings. The new grant allows this vital training to reach beyond campus to other health-related disciplines and community partners.
The first MHFA training funded by the grant took place in August at the Northeastern Center (NEC), drawing strong interest from local participants. A second session is scheduled at NEC for October 3.
“The first NEC training went extremely well,” said Cunningham, who also works at NEC as an inpatient RN. “Many participants shared that it’s an ideal course for new employees or those just entering the mental health field, and for more experienced staff, it serves as a valuable refresher and skill-building opportunity.”
“These trainings are not only strengthening our clinical partnerships, but also expanding mental health awareness and skills across the region,” Cunningham added.
The grant also supports hiring additional interdisciplinary instructors to help expand offerings to more schools within IU Fort Wayne and further into the community.
For more information about IU Fort Wayne’s Mental Health First Aid training or to inquire about future sessions, contact Adaline Cunningham at amburton@iu.edu.
