October is Emotional Wellness Month

Here are several mental health and substance abuse grants and other resources in recognition of Emotional Wellness Month.

  • The American Psychiatric Foundation will award funds to high schools to implement their program, Typical or Troubled?  This is an educational program for school staff to raise their awareness of mental disorders in teens.  It focuses on early recognition and treatment.  I just found out about this; the deadline is this Friday, October 30.  But the application looks fairly basic.
  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting proposals through December 8 for the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program.  This program funds home and community-based services for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families.   The emphasis should be on a “system of care” that involves collaboration across agencies, families, and youth to improve access to care.  They will award grants up to $1 million.  Don’t let that amount deter you from applying.  Collaborate with other agencies in your region to prepare a strong proposal!
  • CIGNA funds programs in several health care areas, including Connection Between a Healthy Mind and a Healthy Body.  Under this area, they will fund programs providing mental health services.  I don’t find a due date; I would contact them directly to find out if there’s a deadline.  I think it’s generally a good idea to contact private foundations, either email or a brief phone call, to find out if they fund projects like yours, at the level you’re interested in.

SAMHSA has also released an updated, searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs; Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.  The interactive tool provides detailed information on programs within various distances of any community you enter.  Information includes a printable map, types of services and care and what types of payment or payment programs they have.

 

Rural suicide is a significant problem.  A report published last month found that both suicide attempts and successful suicides were more common, on a per capita basis, in rural areas than urban.  This is a reversal from just a few decades ago, when cities had higher suicide rates.  The study also found a relationship between the number of bars and suicides in a community.

 

The goal of the Means Matter Campaign is “to increase the proportion of suicide prevention groups who promote activities that reduce a suicidal person’s access to lethal means of suicide.”  Their focus is on how people take their lives, rather than why, and “means reduction.”  Their website has links to state suicide data and example of resources and current programs.  They also provide guides and recommendations to develop community and state means reduction programs.

October 27, 2009 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , ,  · Posted in: Grant Advice, Reports and Studies, Training and Tools

Leave a Reply