Washington, D.C., July 1, 2022 – As Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month begins, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Division of Diversity and Health Equity and APA Foundation (APAF) today are highlighting the first class of APAF Moore Equity in Mental Health Community Grants Program grantees. Five grant recipients are working to support mental health equity for young people of color, including the Drake University (Iowa) Counseling Center, the University of Florida Health Community Clinic, Project Nia (of the Kellin Foundation, North Carolina), Crear Con Salud (Puerto Rico), and the University of Colorado.

Each recipient was awarded a grant up to $10,000 over two years. The grants were funded by the APA Moore Equity in Mental Health 5K, which saw its inaugural run last year. This year’s 5K is part of a series of APA events around the awareness month.

“It was so amazing to have participation from people in the U.S.A. and four other continents; but what made this inaugural event more rewarding was knowing that everyone’s efforts will be translated into support for mental health programs that work directly with young people of color to address mental illness and substance use disorders,” said Regina James, M.D., APA’s Deputy Medical Director and Chief of Diversity and Health Equity.

“The APA Foundation is honored to support the efforts of these trailblazing organizations and their innovative projects as they work to get the word out on mental health in communities that have been traditionally unserved or underserved,” said APAF Executive Director Rawle Andrews, Esq. "These grantees will make a tangible difference in countless young peoples’ lives.”

The Drake University Counseling Center will use its grant to better gather data and assess the mental health needs of people of color among its student body. The data will be used to inform programming as well as outreach through on-campus partners. The Center will also host an event where students of color will share their experiences with mental health, and its clinicians will be offered ongoing training in therapeutic tools for young people of color.

At the University of Florida, students from nearby colleges often seek mental health help at the UF Health Community clinic. However, some of these students do not have financial resources or insurance to cover their costs and end up leaving treatment before it is completed. The University of Florida will use the grant to connect students from historically underserved backgrounds, with disabilities, or from disadvantaged backgrounds to an outpatient clinic for treatment, including an evaluation and seven follow-up sessions.

The Kellin Foundation’s Project Nia’s is working to reach more young individuals of color in Guilford County, North Carolina, area with culturally and linguistically appropriate resources about mental health. Leveraging its designation as a National Child Traumatic Stress Network site, the Kellin Foundation will also update training materials, conduct staff training sessions, and build additional expertise among clinicians and advocates in the areas of equity and inclusion.

Crear Con Salud in Puerto Rico is presenting biweekly Facebook livestreams about mental health for the general public, as well as workshops for community leaders. With the support of the grant, they will broaden their audience and curate the information they’ve previously made available and develop more in-person workshops on resilience and conflict management.

The University of Colorado is using its grant to support translation of an evidence-based mental health intervention for Spanish-speaking youth. Among its activities, it will conduct presentations for area school districts, adolescent physical health care clinicians, faith-based leaders and others who could refer Spanish-speaking adolescents in need of outpatient, trauma-informed behavioral health services.

The 2nd Annual APA Moore Equity in Mental Health 5K is scheduled for Saturday, July 9, in Washington, D.C., and remotely. Register here.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.