Contact:
Sophia Majlessi
SophiaM@thenationalcouncil.org
(202) 621-1631
“CONNECTED” Brings Together Youth-Serving Communities Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb.12, 2019) – The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is pleased to announce the five pilot organizations chosen for CONNECTED, a two-year initiative designed to reduce anxiety, depression and suicide among young people aged 10 to 24 in underserved communities.
The selected participants chosen from more than 250 applicants are:
- Anchorage Community Mental Health Services – Anchorage, Alaska
- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans – New Orleans, La.
- Motivation Education & Training – New Caney, Texas
- Mental Health Task Force of Washburn County – Spooner, Wisc.
- Whatcom Family & Community Network – Bellingham, Wash.
“One in five teens and young adults lives with a mental health condition. We need to understand the signs of distress, engage youth in treatment and share best practices among practitioners,” said Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. “CONNECTED will offer support for young people experiencing mental health challenges while empowering them to engage in their communities.”
CONNECTED will address issues of growing concern, including access to quality mental health care and engaging culturally diverse, rural, LGBTQ+ and other underserved youth populations. Over the next 24 months the organizations will work to identify new community approaches for these young people. Recognizing that approaches are most effective when developed and implemented at the community level with involvement from those they intend to serve, CONNECTED will engage 20 youth influencers who, under the guidance of coaches and experts, will work to increase engagement and sustain services for young people in their communities.
The National Council has partnered with Change Matrix, Relias, Watauga Consulting and Youth MOVE National to achieve the goals of CONNECTED. A project evaluation, led by the Michigan Public Health Institute, will study the factors that contribute to successful implementation and replication of effective approaches. Following the pilot and evaluation, lessons learned and resources will be shared nationally.
Learn more about CONNECTED.
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The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and addictions treatment and services. Together with our 2,900 member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First Aid USA and more than 1.5 million Americans have been trained.
About The National Council
Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of over 3,400 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 3 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.