Funder Spotlight: Making Mental Health Support a Community Effort

The National Council proudly partners with organizations committed to advancing mental wellbeing and strengthening community resilience. Among them is the Humana Foundation, which is helping expand access to mental health education and support through its investment in the Communitywide Mental Health First Aid Road Map, launching in the coming months. We spoke with the Foundation’s Chief Impact Officer, Danielle Neveles-McGrath, MBA, about its philanthropic priorities, commitment to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and the impact this Road Map can have on communities nationwide.

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What inspired the Humana Foundation to invest in the Communitywide Mental Health First Aid Road Map and advance community mental health?

“At the Humana Foundation, we are committed to advancing health equity by eliminating unjust, avoidable, and unnecessary barriers in health and health care. We focus our work on creating healthy emotional connections and supporting a healthier approach to nutrition for seniors, school-aged children and veterans.

“We invest in community-led innovations that empower local leaders to design and sustain solutions rooted in the lived experiences and needs of their residents. In October 2022, we launched the Health Equity Innovation Fund to identify, test and scale novel approaches to emotional and nutritional health.

“Our vision includes increased awareness and early identification of mental health challenges, reduced stigma and a greater willingness to seek help.”

“We know that poor mental health can affect a child’s ability to thrive at home and in school, while social isolation and loneliness pose serious risks to the mental and physical health of seniors, impacting quality of life and longevity. That’s why we invested in the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as a Health Equity Innovation Fund recipient to create a Road Map for MHFA.

“As an evidence-based early intervention, MHFA helps people recognize and respond to someone experiencing a mental health challenge. We believe this model has the potential to increase awareness of mental illness, connect seniors and youth to support and resources, and equip everyday community members to recognize when someone needs help.”

Why is the National Council’s mission — and the Road Map’s framework — important to the Foundation’s philanthropic goals?

“The National Council shares our commitment to advancing equitable access to health and strengthening community resilience. Their mission closely aligns with our vision of building healthier, more equitable communities.

“The Road Map offers a structured, strategic approach to expanding mental health support at scale. Its emphasis on coordination, measurement, sustainability and community leadership mirrors our philanthropic priorities. We invest in solutions that endure, strengthen systems and address root causes — not just symptoms.

“Because the Foundation prioritizes data-driven, evidence-based solutions with measurable outcomes, the Road Map is a strong fit for our model of impact. We see it as a systems-strengthening tool that helps communities align partners, adopt shared best practices and sustain implementation over time. ”

What makes a communitywide strategy for MHFA more impactful than isolated trainings or standalone efforts?

“A communitywide approach embeds MHFA into everyday life rather than limiting it to one-time trainings. It builds shared infrastructure so that support shows up across multiple touchpoints.

“We believe collaboration across sectors is essential to advancing health equity. When schools, employers, faith communities, first responders, nonprofits and other organizations work together, MHFA becomes part of the community’s fabric of care.

“This cohesive approach increases the likelihood that someone experiencing a mental health crisis will encounter a trained individual who knows how to help. It also reduces stigma, supports early intervention and strengthens local systems so people can be connected to the resources they need. ”

How does supporting scalable MHFA implementation fit into the Foundation’s approach to sustainable health outcomes?

“Our work is grounded in listening to communities and partnering with them to design solutions that reflect their needs. We focus on scalable interventions that can deliver long-term impact.

“MHFA’s adoption across most U.S. states demonstrates strong traction and readiness to scale. Expanding access to this training equips community members with the skills to support one another during mental health challenges, helping communities become more resilient and connected.

“By providing communities with tools and resources that can grow with them, we help create sustainable pathways to better mental health outcomes nationwide. ”

What barriers or gaps will the Road Map help communities overcome?

“Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers preventing people from seeking mental health support. MHFA helps normalize conversations about mental health and encourages people to get help sooner.

“The Road Map also helps close access gaps, particularly in communities facing limited providers, resource constraints or longstanding inequities. By educating community members and expanding MHFA training, the Road Map ensures more people can recognize challenges early and connect others to support, regardless of background or circumstance.”

Looking ahead, what impact do you hope the Road Map will have on communities?

“We hope the Road Map serves as a catalyst for long-term, measurable progress, making it easier for communities to adopt and sustain MHFA.

“Our vision includes increased awareness and early identification of mental health challenges, reduced stigma and a greater willingness to seek help. We also hope the Road Map equips communities with best practices and tools that make MHFA a lasting part of their infrastructure, not a short-term initiative.

“Ultimately, we see the Road Map as a resource communities can use to advocate for increased funding and stronger systems of mental health support, driving meaningful change for years to come. ”