SCAHIP Pilot - Cultivating Belongingness through Peer Mental Health Resource Development & Research

Cultivating Belongingness through Peer Mental Health Resource Development & Research PI: Carolyn Oldham Date: December 21, 2022 Abstract: This proposal seeks to cultivate community mental health support networks through the 1) the development of peer support guidebooks to advance peer support toolkit efforts begun with the mobile app and 2) pilot of caring cards in three Kentucky communities which were user-tested for content and design during summer 2022 outreach events. Development of Agricultural Community Member Peer Support Guidebook Guidebooks will be piloted two communities and evaluated using mixed-methods (interviews and surveys related to handbook as well as impact on levels of distress, depression and belongingness). Facilitator handbooks will include SAMSHA’s core competencies for peer services in behavioral health services along with a brief, layperson overview to Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Both facilitator and participant guidebooks will include activities and discussion topics which address agricultural community member sources of distress, including, but not limited to, geographic/social/occupational isolation, succession planning, financial stress, farm family tensions, natural disasters, etc., with farmers of all ages in mind (young farmers, generation bridge, older farmers). Guidebooks will center on the goals of sharing experience, community and relationship building, mentoring, skill building, goal setting, etc. A USB drive to include testimonials, informational videos, and printable caring cards (Motto & Bostrom, 2001) will accompany guidebooks for use in support group sessions. Caring Card Pilot Caring cards will be piloted in three communities using quantitative and social network methods to explore effect of the receiving a card on sense of belonging, distress and depression as well as the structure and directionality of mental health communications in the piloted communities.