Michigan Mental Health Training Kit
About the Training Kit
Mental health is a significant public health concern impacting all demographics in Michigan. According to 2021 data from the National Alliance of Mental Illness, over 1,4600 adults in Michigan experience mental health conditions, while 119,000 adolescents aged 12-17 in Michigan are affected by depression.1
Public and academic librarians serve diverse community members, including those with mental health conditions, but many librarians lack specialized training or knowledge to effectively support these individuals.2,3
The Michigan Mental Health Training Kit was created to address this gap. This resource is designed to support librarians, library workers, and front-line library staff across Michigan by enhancing their understanding of both crisis and non-crisis mental health situations. Its goal is to increase their confidence in responding to the mental health needs of library visitors. The conception and development of the Michigan Mental Health Training Kit was led by the Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 6 Michigan State Advisory Group members.
How to Use This Kit
The Michigan Mental Health Training Kit includes:
- Training on identifying mental health crisis and non-crisis situations in the library
- Case studies of real-life encounters with community members with mental health challenges
- A list of Michigan mental health organizations
- Additional mental health resources and training from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)
We invite libraries to incorporate content from the kit into staff meetings or trainings. Individuals may also explore the kit and utilize its resources at their own pace.
Acknowledgement
This project was funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, under Grant Number UG4 LM013729 with the University of Iowa. All materials provided here are public domain, and freely available for re-use. Please acknowledge the National Library of Medicine as the source of the information by including the phrase “Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine” or “Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine”.
For questions contact Region6-RML@uiowa.edu. This guide was last updated May 2024 by Erica Lake.
1 2021 State-Specific Fact Sheet References. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://nami.quorum.us/mhpolicystats/. Accessed 8 May 2023.
2 Ford, S. Old problem for new reasons: Overcoming the challenge presented by mentally ill library users. 2002. The Reference Librarian, 36(75-76), 83-90.
3 Stringer, H. Libraries as mental health hubs. 2020. Monitor on Psychology, 51(3), 26.
Training Program: Identifying, Understanding, and Responding to Mental Health Crisis Situations in the Library
This training program has been designed for public and academic libries. It addresses the case for a trauma-informed approach to library services, and defines what constitutes a mental health crises. Participants will learn basic conflict resolution for challenging behaviors, as well as de-escalation techniques for specific mental disorders.
Training Formats
The training is available in two formats:
- Video recording
- PowerPoint slides with speaker notes
- File size: 6.6 MB*
Both formats contain the same content. The video recording is split into two parts to offer greater flexibility for staff meetings, while the PowerPoint slides allow individuals to navigate the training at their own pace by reading the speaker notes.
*PowerPoint slides will download.
Acknowledgement
This training program was developed by Mark A. Giesler, PhD, LMSW, Professor of Social Work at Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, MI. It was funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, under Grant Number UG4 LM013729 with the University of Iowa.
All materials provided here are public domain, and freely available for re-use. Please acknowledge the National Library of Medicine as the source of the information by including the phrase “Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine” or “Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine".
This collection of seven case studies was developed using real-life encounters.
Each case study includes a scenario followed by guidance on how to respond to the situation.
Acknowledgement
Case study scenarios were provided by the Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 6 Michigan State Advisory Group members. Case study scenario guidance was provided by Mark A. Giesler, PhD, LMSW, Professor of Social Work at Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, MI. This work was funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, under Grant Number UG4 LM013729 with the University of Iowa..
All materials provided here are public domain and freely available for re-use. Please acknowledge the National Library of Medicine as the source of the information by including the phrase “Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine” or “Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine".
Use this list to find mental health organizations across Michigan by county.
MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and the public. It is a service of the National Library of Medicine, the world's largest medical library, and a part of the National Institutes of Health. It offers trusted and current health information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in both English and Spanish. Anyone can search the MedlinePlus website anytime, anywhere, for free.
MedlinePlus includes a listing of health topics related to mental health and behavior. Each of those health topic pages is organized to make it easier to locate specific information such as diagnosis and treatment. The health topic pages also include links to resources, drug information, directories of providers and facilities, a medical dictionary, medical encyclopedia, and more.
The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) designed this behavioral and mental health resource guide for public library staff to use in their work. It may also be appropriate and useful to offer to patrons.
The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) designed this resource guide on substance use disorders for public library staff to use in their work. It may also be appropriate and useful to offer to patrons.
This substance use disorders resource guide from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) includes resources for supporting patrons living with substance use disorders, programs related to substance use, and information about how NNLM supports the National Institutes of Health’s HEAL initiative to stem the national opioid and pain public health crises.
This is a free, online class offered by the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). All librarians may take this class by creating an individual user account and registering for an upcoming session.
Class description:
Responding to questions involving topics on mental health is challenging even for the most experienced librarian. This class focuses on what librarians and information providers do best:
- Provide reference services
- Make connections to reliable resources
- Library programming
Class objectives:
- Recognize the role the library plays in providing mental health information to patrons.
- Apply best practices to respond to questions about mental health information during a reference interview.
- Identify reliable resources for locating mental health information to share with patrons.
- Recall library programs and services that promote mental health awareness.
Content:
- Mental health facts
- Best practices for reference interviews
- Responding to challenging questions and behavior
- Library policies and guidelines.
- Health information resources
- Ideas for programs and services around mental health
This is a free, online class offered by the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). All librarians may take this class by creating an individual user account and registering for an upcoming session.
Class description:
Many of us spend 40 or more hours a week at work, so it is unsurprising that the workplace affects our mental health and well-being. The first half of this 1-hour webinar will look at improving workplace mental health and wellbeing following the U.S. Surgeon General framework of 5 essential components for workplace mental health and wellbeing. The second half will explore the eight dimensions of health from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) which we can use as individuals to improve our mental health and well-being. We'll also explore resources related to mental health and well-being from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and other organizations.
This presentation focuses on providing equal access to biomedical information and improving the public's access to information in order to enable individuals to make informed decisions about their health by increasing awareness of or access to health information resources and data. The presentation includes MedlinePlus resources related to mental health, environmental health, fitness and exercise, food and nutrition, personal health issues, social and family issues, wellness, and lifestyle, as well as resources from the National Institute on Mental Health and the National Institute of Health.
This class is designed to be profession-agnostic and can seamlessly integrate into any setting. A prepared slide deck with presenter notes, and a class handout is available for use to incorporate into our kit.