Mental Health Awareness, Consultation Projected Funded by Charitable Fund
July 11, 2018
Newton, Kan. (July 11, 2018) – Prairie View, Inc., is pleased to announce that it has received a $5,000 grant from the L. Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children through the Central Kansas Community Foundation. The organization will use the funds for mental health awareness, intervention and prevention presentations, and consultation.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five children ages 13-18 have or will have a serious mental illness. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 10-24 and 90 percent of those who died by suicide had an underlying mental illness. For adults who have mental disorder, symptoms were present – often not recognized or addressed – in childhood and youth. Only half of the youth with a mental illness receive care.
“Mental health awareness and knowledge is the key to intervention and prevention,” says Dr. Elizabeth Guhman, vice president of clinical services at Prairie View. “With awareness, stigmas are reduced and improvements can be made.”
Based on the Harvey County Community Health Needs Assessment of 2017, the accompanying Community Health Improvement Plan identified “Improve Well Being/Mental Health/Behavioral Health” as one of the top three needs in Harvey County.
“Our community and surrounding schools have been asking for education with our clinicians on a variety of topics in mental health to be presented to the youth,” says Guhman. “Prairie View’s licensed clinicians will develop presentations on anxiety, depression and suicide prevention with the potential to expand into other topics based on the response of the youth.”
Twelve two-hour presentations will be available between July 2018 and April 2019 to schools in Harvey and Marion counties. Up to six hours of consultation will be available by licensed clinicians.
An award ceremony will take place Tuesday, July 31, at 3:30 p.m. at Norm’s Coffee Bar, 613 N. Main, Newton.
About Central Kansas Community Foundation Kids FUNd
The Central Kansas Kids FUNd is funded with proceeds from the L. Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children. The Central Kansas Kids FUNd aims to support project/programs and organizations having interest in children’s behavioral research, child welfare, teaching parent skills, and/or strengthening families. More informationa bout L. Marie Haun can be reviewed at www.centralkansascf.org/donors/donor-stories-of-inspiration/l-marie-haun.
About Central Kansas Community Foundation
Central Kansas Community Foundation’s mission is “Building Stronger Communities Through Charitable Giving.” Founded in 1995, Central Kansas Community Foundation, based in Newton, Kan., is an intermediary between donors and charities. The community foundation helps donors establish funds that financially support meaningful, charitable programs and services in their community. Central Kansas Community Foundation also hosts numerous affiliate community foundations throughout Central Kansas. www.centralkansascf.org