Project AWARE: Collaborating to build a healthier future for our students

Pictured: Stephanie Lonergan, UCS Mental Health Consultant, Project AWARE

United Counseling Service (UCS) is proud to partner with the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union (SVSU) on Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education). Project AWARE is a national initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) with a goal of increasing awareness of mental health challenges among school-aged youth, train staff and community members to identify early signs of concern and connect families with support and resources before problems become crises. Project AWARE helps our schools and community work together to ensure that every student has the tools and support they need to thrive.

Meeting an urgent need
According to a youth risk behavior survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 35% of SVSU middle and high schoolers feel sad or hopeless, and 50-60% feel they do not matter to people in their community. Rates of feeling sad, hopeless, or thinking about suicide have statistically increased in the past decade. Additionally, over one quarter of middle and high schoolers report seeing someone get physically attacked, beaten, stabbed, or shot in their neighborhood. Suicide statistics in the SVSU are also cause for alarm, with over ten percent of middle and high schoolers reporting suicide attempts and almost 20% of students reporting making a plan for suicide. These demonstrate urgent needs in the community for support of youth mental health challenges, a need Project AWARE strives to meet.

“The suicide rate in Bennington County is higher than VT overall, so we are working with SVSU to create a system of mental health support to help our students receive the care that they need to overcome the barriers that affect their mental health, such as transportation and medical insurance,” says UCS Mental Health Consultant for Project AWARE Stephanie Lonergan. “Project AWARE aims to create a system to help students in the long-run and hopefully better the mental health overall in Bennington County.”

Identifying the risk factors negatively affecting the well-being of SVSU students and creating schools where every student feels seen, supported, and connected are the first steps taken by Project AWARE. SVSU and UCS use Project AWARE as an opportunity to build upon interventions and supports that increase protective factors to improve the mental health and wellness of students.

Our local partnership
Stephanie works closely with educators, families, and community partners to provide mental health education, consultation, and support. Maria Cornwell is the primary contact for Project AWARE while the SVSU searches for a local education agency (LEA) coordinator. Together, Maria and Stephanie help to bridge the gap between education and mental health care to provide students with timely and compassionate support. They formed a District Community Leadership Team that plays a vital role in guiding the initiative, bringing together key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and improve mental health resources across the district. So far this year, Project AWARE has trained 60 paraprofessionals in Mental Health First Aid and 31 staff at Mount Anthony Union High School in Suicide Awareness and Risks. Every person trained to recognize warning signs for poor mental health makes the SVSU that much stronger in its efforts to support youth.

Youth mental health matters

Mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and stress affect many young people, often quietly. When these needs go unrecognized, they can impact learning, relationships, and overall well-being. Project AWARE focuses on early intervention and education, giving teachers, parents and students the confidence to start conversations about mental health and seek help when needed. By reducing stigma and improving access to care, Project AWARE aims to help students build resilience, confidence, and hope for the future.

Working together for our community
This partnership is not just for schools, but for the entire community. Project AWARE promotes collaboration among families, educators, and local service providers. Workshops, outreach events, and mental health awareness activities developed through this partnership provide tools that everyone can use to recognize signs of distress and know where to turn for help. Through these efforts, the SVSU becomes a stronger, more supportive environment where students can grow and succeed in and out of the classroom.

For more information about Project AWARE, please visit samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/school-health/project-aware.

For information about how UCS can help you, please visit ucsvt.org or call 802.442.5491.

United Counseling Service (UCS) is committed to helping individuals and families in Bennington County live healthy, meaningful lives. Our work spans mental health, substance use treatment, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and early childhood development. UCS is a private, non-profit community mental health center that has been an essential part of Bennington County’s integrated healthcare system since 1958. For more information or to access our services, visit www.ucsvt.org or call (802) 442-5491.