Training for a mental health first aid instructor

Our neighbors experiencing homelessness are not receiving adequate mental health care. We are requesting donations for training in mental health first aid because we believe in community-based care. The U.S. Council of Mayors has identified mental illness as one of the leading causes of homelessness. 59% of adults in Georgia who are diagnosed with mental illness receive no treatment. Georgia ranks 47th out of 50 states in providing mental health services. People with mental illness are far more likely to be the victims of violence - this is especially true for unhoused people. The police are often the first responders to unhoused people experiencing a mental health crisis. Prisons have become de facto mental health providers. Ten percent of Georgia's prison population have a mental health diagnosis. We believe that community-based care can provide better treatment than prisons or police.