Mental Health Foundation Announces 2010
“It’s Okay to Talk About It” grant program

Funding available for projects focused on the mental health needs of young adults

The Mental Health Foundation is pleased to announce its 2010 “It’s OK to Talk About It” Grant Initiative.  Funding is available to individuals and not-for-profit organizations to support projects designed to improve access to mental health related education and services for young adults.  

The “It’s Okay to Talk About It” grant program was suggested to the foundation by Marylou Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson. This grant program has been established to support initiatives encouraging young people about dealing with the challenges of mental illness.
 
The first recipient of the grant was the Albany based ClearView Center for a peer to peer initiative as part of their Insights program which is presented on five college campuses in the Capital Region. The initiative reaches thousands of college age students and provides them with courage, perspective, information and most importantly, hands on guidance to available help through a peer to peer exchange.

The Mental Health Foundation previously awarded grants to Families Together of New York State (FTNYS) for an educational children’s mental health information slider and to the Troy YWCA for an early assessment, counseling, parent/child and nutrition/fitness training program.

The Mental Health Foundation seeks to support innovative programs that address the reduction of stigma, the promotion of public awareness, and education of mental health issues for the target population of young adults.  These programs must entail a peer component of young adults who have personally lived with mental illness and can share their condition and stigmatization in a candid and positive manner with peers.  The goal is to improve acceptance of and access to mental health services and supports. 

The Foundation anticipates awarding several grants for innovative and creative approaches that serve youth.  Project awards may range from $1,000 to $10,000. 

Full details about the proposals and the application process are available at here. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2010.

The Mental Health Foundation is a 501 ( c ) 3 organization focused on educational efforts to improve public understanding about mental health and end stigma.  The Mental Health Foundation has presented a range of successful events in recent years in its effort to promote better understanding about mental health, including hosting mental health advocate Tipper Gore, wife of former Vice president Al Gore, at an Albany reception this past May, and a 2006 event with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. 

The Foundation's annual Paws for a Cause at the Plaza the past three years has drawn tens of thousands of participants and helped celebrate the link between the animals in our lives and good mental health. This year’s event is scheduled for April 9 and 10 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. It is free to the public. Learn more at www.mentalhealthfoundation.net/pawsa1.html