NMHA Provides Crisis Response Planning Grants to Six Communities

National Mental Health Association
Monday, 23 June 2003

Program to Help Communities Address Mental Health Needs During and After a Crisis

The National Mental Health Association is providing "Blueprint for Responding to Public Mental Health Needs in Times of Crisis" grants to six communities across America to address the short- and long-term mental health needs of local communities during and after a crisis.

"After September 11, America learned that communities often turn to the public health system or non-mental health organizations to provide immediate crisis counseling and disaster relief, which lack the foresight and expertise to address long-term mental health consequences," said Michael Faenza, NMHA president and CEO. "In the event of another tragedy, we want communities nationwide to be fully prepared to provide a full spectrum of mental health services to those in need."

Each $14,000 grant will be used to assess current community crisis response plans, foster and coordinate mental health crisis response planning among community stakeholders, and implement comprehensive crisis response plans that respond to public mental health needs. The following Mental Health Associations will pilot this intensive training and technical assistance program over the next 12 months: the MHA in El Paso County, Colorado; MHA of Westchester, New York; MHA of East Tennessee; MHA in Indiana; MHA of New River Valley, Virginia; and MHA in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

NMHA is in the final stages of developing a comprehensive "Blueprint for Responding to Public Mental Health Needs in Times of Crisis" — an in-depth mental health crisis response planning manual and training program. The program will not only help Mental Health Associations and other state and local organizations to address the mental health service and policy needs in this new era of terrorism and risk, but it will also serve as a template for preparing for and responding to other large scale crises and disasters.

The National Mental Health Association is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research, and service.

For more information, or to contact National Mental Health Association, see their website at: www.nmha.org