The Challenge
“The evidence is strong for a causal relationship between poverty and mental health. However, findings suggest poverty leads to mental health and developmental problems that, in turn, prevent individuals and families from leaving poverty, creating a vicious, intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor health.”
– Simon, et al., Psychiatric Times (2018)
The Challenge
“The evidence is strong for a causal relationship between poverty and mental health. However, findings suggest poverty leads to mental health and developmental problems that, in turn, prevent individuals and families from leaving poverty, creating a vicious, intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor health.”
– Simon, et al., Psychiatric Times (2018)
Although people who have a lower income are associated with a higher risk for mental health challenges, several barriers prevent many from accessing care. Financial barriers, logistical challenges, and the long-standing stigma associated with mental health problems are just a few reasons low-income populations may not receive the treatment they need.
$976,393 invested to expand and enhance mental health care services
Grant recipients were selected based on their ability to improve access to behavioral health services, mental health education, and skill-building opportunities for low-income households and underserved populations in Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties. Priority was given to programs serving individuals who are uninsured, or underinsured, recognizing the significant barriers many residents face in obtaining timely and affordable mental health care.
Access to Affordable Direct Services
Catholic Charities’ award will help fund individual and family counseling services. Services are provided using a sliding-fee scale to reduce financial barriers, with intentional efforts to ensure accessibility for non-English-speaking populations.
Holly’s House funding will support mental health services for children who have experienced domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, or witnessed a violent crime. These interventions help prevent or minimize the effects of post-traumatic stress which commonly occur after experiencing these types of traumas. Services also support the child’s parents or primary caregivers.
Southwestern Behavioral Health Care’s award will utilize Pathway Grant funds to expand their Neurodevelopment Center. This program provides an integrated outpatient center for individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Services include assessment and treatment utilizing a multi-disciplinary team approach.
University of Evansville’s Emily M. Young Mental Health Clinic’s award will support comprehensive mental health services for lower-income individuals, families, and others facing significant barriers to care. Through its integration with the University’s Doctor of Psychology program, the clinic also helps strengthen the future behavioral health workforce by providing hands-on training for emerging mental health professionals.
Strategies to Improve Mental Health
Funding for the Community Action Program of Evansville will enable it to launch the “Growing Healthy Minds” program for children ages 0-5 in the Head Start program. Growing Healthy Minds focuses on developing the capacity to establish relationships with adults and peers, along with managing and expressing emotions. The program includes classroom learning, parent coaching, and individualized mental health services.
Youth First will use their funds to support evidence-based youth mental health prevention programs in EVSC schools with larger low-income populations. This work addresses critical, underlying challenges that improve mental health and break cycles of poverty.