Fort Wayne, IN – November 1, 2018 – Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana (MHANI) has been awarded a $375,000 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which spans three years. Grant funds will be used to provide mental health and suicide prevention trainings to community organizations at no charge.
Northeast Indiana community members continue to struggle with mental health challenges and thoughts of suicide. According to National Mental Health America, 1 in 5 individuals will face a mental health challenge in any given year. In Allen County, according to the Allen County Coroner’s Office, suicide deaths increased by 50% from 2016 to 2017. Grant-funded evidence-based trainings teach skills to recognize and respond to mental health and suicide crises in order to reduce these risks for community members.
Trainings offered through grant funding are ideal for a variety of organizations, including schools, veteran hospitals and other service providers, primary care and other medical providers, religious groups, universities, shelters, and first responders. These no-cost trainings will be available for organizations in eleven counties in Northeast Indiana: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Kosciusko, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley
“We are excited to utilize these federal funds to provide no-cost trainings to our community,” Lisa Smith, Executive Director, commented regarding the funding. “This is a great opportunity for all kinds of organizations in Northeast Indiana.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
For over 60 years, MHANI has provided essential resources, advocacy, and education to professionals, individuals, and families who are affected by mental illness. Through these services, they want to ensure that all individuals facing mental health challenges are supported and gain access to the resources they need.