Ten Summer Camps Take Proactive Steps by Engaging LEAD, Inc

BOSTON - Sept. 8, 2019 - PRLog -- During the summers of 2018 and 2019, Let's Empower, Advocate, and Do, Inc. (LEAD) instructors traveled the country to certify summer camps in 2.5-hour Camp Mental Health (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HFFZZVSg5s_Pg_O_DtZKcKqoqhn3KRKwgul1kd5pvQg/edit?usp=sharing). After many miles driven and hours spent teaching courses to camp counselors and staff, LEAD is proud to announce that five states have camps that have been certified in Camp Mental Health.

The following camps have been certified by LEAD, Inc. in Camp Mental Health since June of 2018.

Leominster Recreation Department (http://www.leominster-ma.gov/depts/programs/recreation/default.asp)
Concord Academy Summer Camp (https://concordacademy.org/summer-camp/)
Girl Scouts of Easter Massachusetts' Camp Favorite (https://www.gsema.org/en/camp/our-camps/favorite.html)
Camp Gottalikeachallenge (https://nh-di.org/programs/camp/)
Camp Kinderland
Camp Mowglis (https://www.mowglis.org/)
Camp Susquehannock (https://susquehannock.com/)
Camp Unalayee (https://unalayee-summer-camp.com/)
Camp Wiyaka (https://campwiyaka.org/)
MA Junior Conservation Camp (https://www.mass.gov/service-details/junior-conservation-camp).

Camp Mental Health certification is a 2.5-hour course that introduces camp counselors and staff to risk factors and warning signs of adolescent mental illness. Camp Mental Health certification is the nation's first early intervention course tailored to mental health challenges in the camp environment and designed to give counselors and staff an action plan to respond to both crisis and non-crisis situations.

The course was designed after LEAD's co-founders conducted research (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gmUdKhQ387zrnvVya7K1nEew02G9Vqk-9_6drT0we0A/edit?usp=sharing) on untreated mental illness in campers and discovered dangerous trends of limited support for staff and suicide attempts occurring at overnight camps across the country. Since one in five campers suffer from a severe mental illness and 70% of youth with a mental illness fail to receive treatment, LEAD, Inc. believes every camp professional should be certified in Camp Mental Health.

Many of the camp counselors who participated in their camp's certification reported what they learned, felt, and took away from the course.

• "Informative, engaging and important information for anyone working with youth in the camp environment"

• "As a camp counselor I will use the certification to help give me confidence for handling situations where campers need my help or guidance to help them feel safe and heard."

• "When I am working as a counselor at my camp this summer, I will be more aware of the mental health needs of those around me, and I will have a better idea of how to respond if an issue arises."

As the mental and emotional needs of campers become a top concern of caregivers, LEAD's Camp Mental Health certification is already being booked by camp directors for the upcoming summer. LEAD intends to certify every American camp in CMH by 2030, as proactive mental health education of all camp staff is vital to ensuring a safe environment for campers and college-aged staff.

LEAD looks forward to certifying more summer camps throughout the United States. If you would like more information about Camp Mental Health Certification, please contact Kyrah Altman, Executive Director of LEAD, Inc.