St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea gets $1.125M for Behavioral Health Services
Information from St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea
St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea has received a $625,000 Mental Health Awareness and Training (MHAT) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and a $500,000 gift from local resident and former patient Scott Baird and his wife Janice. The combined $1.125 million in additional funding will support the expansion of the Behavioral Health Services offered by the hospital to residents of Chelsea and surrounding communities, including Stockbridge, Dexter, Manchester and Grass Lake. In particular, the MHAT grant will provide mental health training to more than 2,500 members of the community over the next five years.
St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea’s Community Health Improvement team and SRSLY coalitions will utilize the MHAT grant to develop and implement evidence-based mental health awareness training, including Question Persuade Refer (QPR) for youth and adults, Teen Mental Health First Aid (a peer program designed for teens), Youth Mental Health First Aid (a program for adults who work with youth), and Mental Health First Aid (a program for adults to recognize mental health concerns in other adults). Training will be available to those who work with youth, parents, grandparents, caregivers and teens. The grant also will identify resources and support available for mental health, establish referral mechanisms to link youth to mental health services and support youth in developing a stigma reduction campaign.
Barriers to mental health care access is a significant issue facing many Americans. More than half of adults with mental illness in the United States do not receive mental health care treatment. According to 2019 research by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 1.3 million Michiganders have a mental health condition. About 38 percent of these individuals (and 80 percent of those with substance use disorders) for various reasons are not receiving care.
“We know that mental illness is often overlooked and dismissed and that more can be done to help those suffering in our community,” said Nancy Graebner-Sundling, president of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. “To have the support of Scott and Janice in this effort, especially given Scott’s own health journey, is inspiring to all of us that have come to know him and his story. Along with the MHAT grant, the Bairds are going to be making a significant impact in our community. We are going to reach more people and provide them with the education and support they need to live healthier, fuller lives.”
Giving has been an important part of Scott Baird’s healing process. Following his 2018 battle with prostate cancer, he and his wife Janice began their philanthropic giving to St. Joe’s Chelsea by making a gift to support Radiation Oncology Services. The couple then began their ongoing support of St. Joe’s Chelsea Diabetes Prevention Program, provided patient amenities in the Cancer Center, helped with COVID relief efforts and began their philanthropic support of St. Joe’s Chelsea Behavioral Health Services.
“I know my gifts to St. Joe’s Chelsea are making a difference for patients and giving back has been a key part of my own healing journey,” said Baird. “I want to ensure that the programs that helped change my life are available to others who are in need of support.”
