[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#ffffff” admin_label=”Section .rww-top-curve-2″ module_id=”headerbanner” module_class=”rww-top-curve-2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/gthu.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/teal-wave-mischer-V2-flipped.svg” background_position=”bottom_center” z_index=”60″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” bottom_divider_style=”wave” bottom_divider_repeat=”1x” bottom_divider_flip=”horizontal” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Sunflora||||||||” custom_margin=”||100px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_color=”#25989E” header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_line_height=”50px” custom_padding=”38px|40px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/gthu.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Empower-Your-Community-Building-Mental-Health-Literacy-One-Neighbor-at-a-Time.png” alt=”Empower Your Community Building Mental Health Literacy, One Neighbor at a Time” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A forthcoming study in\u00a0Progress in Community Health Partnerships<\/em>\u00a0(2025) showcases a powerful model for addressing the mental health crisis in rural areas: the\u00a0“Empower training program”<\/strong>\u00a0from GTHU. This research provides compelling evidence that by equipping everyday community members with essential skills, we can significantly increase mental health literacy and build vital support networks where they are needed most. Millions of Americans face mental health concerns annually, a challenge exacerbated by recent global events. Rural areas, in particular, struggle with limited access to professional mental health care, compounded by social disparities and cultural stigma. This often leaves individuals and families relying on informal support from friends, family, and faith-based organizations, who often lack formal training to respond effectively in a crisis.<\/p>\n This study highlights the success of the “Empower training program” in equipping community members within faith-based organizations to become first responders in mental health crises. The program is designed to teach laypersons the fundamentals of:<\/p>\n The “Empower” program was chosen for its unique advantages: it’s tailored for faith-based communities, offered at no cost, and provides flexible, accessible learning options. It has even received national recognition from SAMHSA and the White House Mental Health Summit for its potential to reform the mental health system.<\/p>\n This research validates community-focused, faith-partnered mental health literacy efforts and gives actionable lessons both HHCI and GTHU.ORG can apply:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n GTHU is leading the charge in building mentally healthy communities by empowering individuals with the knowledge and confidence to make a difference, one conversation, one referral, one act of support at a time.<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#353535″ text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Inspired by the proven impact of our programs? Explore our comprehensive training programs and discover how you can make a tangible difference in your community.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/learn.gthu.org\/course-catalog\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Explore Our Training Programs ” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” button_icon_color=”#DEF0F1″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_padding=”|||40px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/hopeandhealingcenter.org\/make-a-donation\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Support Our Mission” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” button_icon_color=”#DEF0F1″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_padding=”|||40px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Partnering for progress: Enhancing mental health crisis response in rural North Carolina* Discover how faith-based training is transforming mental health crisis response in underserved communities. A forthcoming study in\u00a0Progress in Community Health Partnerships\u00a0(2025) showcases a powerful model for addressing the mental health crisis in rural areas: the\u00a0“Empower training program”\u00a0from GTHU. This research provides compelling evidence […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"parent":16469,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Empower Your Community: Building Mental Health Literacy, One Neighbor at a time","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover how faith-based training is transforming mental health crisis response in underserved communities.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19106","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19106"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19120,"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19106\/revisions\/19120"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gthu.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”40px||70px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_sidebar area=”sidebar-3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nThe Challenge: A Silent Crisis in Our Communities<\/h2>\n
The Solution: GTHU’s “Empower” Training<\/h2>\n
\n
Key Discoveries & Benefits for Community Mental Health Literacy:<\/h2>\n
\n
How This Study Strengthens GTHU.ORG and HHCI\u2019s Trainings in Increasing Community Mental Health Literacy<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
\nEvidence that the program raises community mental health literacy reinforces GTHU.ORG\u2019s Empower curriculum and supports HHCI\u2019s outreach efforts to train lay responders to recognize, respond to, and refer people in crisis.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nSuccess delivering education through faith communities and faith groups bolsters both organizations\u2019 strategies to use these hubs for stigma reduction, awareness-building, and trusted dissemination of mental health resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nThe program\u2019s flexible, duplicable format offers a practical blueprint GTHU.ORG can replicate in training modules and HHCI.org can deploy across communities to expand reach where clinical resources are limited.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nLessons on local collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and adapting materials to community needs help both groups design more effective rollouts and sustain longterm impact.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_text_color=”#353535″ link_font_size=”14px” link_line_height=”24px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Sarah Grenon, Mallory Bejster, Marty Roberts, et al., “Partnering for Progress: Enhancing Mental Health Crisis Response in Rural North Carolina Through Faith-Based Training,” Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 19(3), 317-325, 2025.\u00a0<\/a>
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFF2D9″ custom_padding=”70px||70px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”_initial” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nJoin the Movement: Become a Catalyst for Hope!<\/strong><\/h2>\n