A.I.D.: A Guide for Early Identification, Intervention, and Support for Mental Health
Join us for a webinar highlighting Awareness, Interaction, and Direction (A.I.D.), a mental health awareness training developed in 2019 by the Center for Public Policy and Health at Kent State University. A.I.D. is a practical framework that helps individuals approach mental health concerns with confidence and compassion. During this webinar, you’ll learn the A.I.D. action steps, which include identifying signs of mental distress, starting meaningful conversations about mental health, and guiding individuals to appropriate resources and support. We will also discuss the value of “gatekeeper trainings” in responding to mental health needs in your community and the power of conversations in reducing stigma around mental health.
Essential Details:
Cost: Free
Location: Teams Webinar
CEUs: Prevention CEUs will be applied for.
Meet the Speakers
Diana Patel, PhD | Project Coordinator, Center for Public Policy and Health at Kent State University
Dr. Diana Patel currently serves as a Project Coordinator in the Center for Public Policy and Health (CPPH) at Kent State University. In her role, she serves as the project director for a SAMHSA-funded mental health awareness training program for local public, private, and charter schools in a 9-county area in Northeast Ohio. In addition to this, she manages efforts to train instructors in the CPPH’s Awareness, Interaction, and Direction (A.I.D.) training. Dr. Patel received her PhD in Prevention Science from Kent State University (KSU). She also completed two postdoctoral research fellowships at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Kent State University. In addition to her PhD, she also holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Akron. Dr. Patel’s primary research interests are focused on how social issues impact vulnerable populations, as well as how systems change can be utilized to improve population and social health. She is passionate about the role mental health awareness trainings can play in reducing stigma around mental health.
Kayla Varney, MPH | Research Associate, Center for Public Policy and Health at Kent State University
Kayla Varney graduated with her Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Kent State University in 2022. She also holds a bachelor’s in psychology, and a bachelor’s in criminology and justice studies. She currently works in the Center for Public Policy and Health as a Research Associate working on a Medication-Assisted Treatment Project to expand substance use treatment services in rural Southeastern Ohio. Additionally, Kayla serves as the Training Coordinator for the Center’s NEO MHAT grant, working to train over 2,000 teachers and school personnel in mental health awareness trainings in nine counties in Northeast Ohio. Kayla is a certified QPR and Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and is also working to expand the Center’s own mental health awareness training, A.I.D. to numerous states across the country.
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