The division is responsible for the following: (1) The planning, research, and development of programs and methods for the education and treatment of children with an emotional disturbance. (2) The coordination of governmental services, activities, and programs in Indiana relating to such children. (3) The administration of the state supported services concerned with such children. (4) The preparation of the annual report required by IC 7.1-6-2-5. (5) The provision of a mental health first aid training program developed under section 4 [IC 12-21-5-4] of this chapter, including providing information and guidance to local school corporations on the development of evidence based programs for basic or inservice courses for teachers and training for teachers on the following: (A) Prevention of child suicide. (B) Recognition of signs that a student may be considering suicide. (6) The development, in consultation with stakeholders, and provision of a research based training program for health care providers, including mental health and behavioral health providers, concerning suicide assessment, training, and management that is: (A) demonstrated to be an effective or promising program; and (B) recommended by the Indiana Suicide Prevention Network Advisory Council.

(a) To the extent that funds are made available, the division, in consultation with:

• (1) the department of education;
• (2) the law enforcement training board;
• (3) the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers;
• (4) Mental Health America-Indiana;
• (5) the Indiana emergency medical services commission; and
• (6) a private foundation dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide through education and awareness; shall develop and administer a mental health first aid training program.

(b) The mental health first aid training program developed under subsection (a) must do the following:

• (1) Train individuals attending the training program to recognize the risk factors and signs of mental health problems or crises in children and young adults, including signs that a child or young adult may be considering suicide.
• (2) Train individuals attending the training program to guide children and young adults who exhibit signs of a mental health problem or crisis to appropriate behavioral health services.
• (3) Train individuals attending the training program to not label children who are at risk or show signs of mental health problems in a manner that would stigmatize the child.

(c) The division shall provide training for individuals who will be instructors in the mental health first aid training program.

(d) The division shall make the mental health first aid training program available to licensed teachers, school counselors, emergency medical service providers, law enforcement officers, leaders of community faith organizations, and other persons interested in receiving training under the program.

(e) The division, the department of education, and the Indiana emergency medical services commission may seek federal and state funding and may accept private contributions to administer and provide mental health first aid training programs.

(f) Notwithstanding any other law, the division is not required to implement the mental health first aid training program until after June 30, 2016.

(g) Before October 1, 2015, the division shall report to the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services established by IC 2-5-1.3-4(14) concerning the status of the development of the mental health first aid training program.

List of state approved professional development opporuntities for mental health training.