Grant helps Community Counseling Center Foundation expand mental health training

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — A grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks is helping the Community Counseling Center Foundation expand free mental health first aid and suicide prevention training throughout Southeast Missouri.

The funding will help cover training materials and other costs associated with the Community Counseling Center’s Mental Health First Aid and QPR, or Question, Persuade, Refer, suicide prevention training programs.

Michelle Ramsey, foundation executive director, said the grant will allow the organization to continue offering the training free of charge while reaching more people across its five-county service area.

“The actual training materials for Mental Health First Aid come out to just under $30 a person,” Ramsey said. “We want to be able to provide that free because that could be a barrier to keep someone from actually taking advantage of being trained.”

The Community Counseling Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that supports programs, training opportunities and services provided by the center.

Ramsey said the expansion effort began after a community needs assessment found residents wanted more education related to mental health.

“One of the big pieces that was asked for repeatedly was more community education,” Ramsey said. “We’ve tried to make ourselves more available to provide that training at request, plus offer them more frequently.”

The organization now allows schools, businesses, civic groups and other organizations to request training through the Community Counseling Center website.

“It might be a business that wants to do an in-service or a lunch and learn,” Ramsey said. “I’ve had people reach out that have Scout troops. So we have those available.”

According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. More than 4.5 million people nationwide have completed the training.

Ramsey said local participation has grown dramatically over the past year.

“Last year in 2025, we had trained like 22 people,” Ramsey said. “Once we really made this a mission and had a couple of schools jump on board in January and February of 2026, 109 people had been trained.”

She said the training goes beyond suicide prevention and helps participants recognize signs of depression, PTSD, trauma, substance use issues and other mental health concerns.

“Tragedy happens in our world, unfortunately, and it can affect somebody for a long time even if they seem to be okay today,” Ramsey said. “Just having the awareness and educating yourself to be able to recognize that, you might actually save lives.”

Ramsey said knowing where to find help is just as important as recognizing warning signs.

“They may not be suicidal. They may not have those thoughts. They may be depressed,” Ramsey said. “Knowing that the Community Counseling Center provides those life-saving resources in our communities that we serve, it should be a very common place to be able to make those recommendations.”

She also encouraged community members to remember the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as a resource for those in need of immediate support.

“988 is a huge thing,” Ramsey said. “That number can save so many lives and provide comfort to somebody when they’re depressed.”

More information about Mental Health First Aid, QPR training and other educational programs is available through the community counseling center.com or mental health firstaid.org.