Alabama Governor Riley Announces Grant to Improve Mental Health Services in the Black Belt

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December 05, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Riley announced Wednesday that the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has awarded Alabama a $1.2 million grant to improve mental health services in the Black Belt.

The grant will help several organizations working together in the Black Belt to reduce stigmas associated with mental illness and assist targeted communities in the care and support of those with mental illness.

Partners in this initiative with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation are: the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology; the University of Alabama College of Community Health Services; NAMI Alabama (a statewide support group comprised of family members of persons with mental illness); the Community Care Network; and community mental health centers serving the Black Belt.

“Alabama was one of many states competing for this grant to improve mental health services and it is truly exciting that the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has selected our state over all others for this grant award,” said Governor Riley. “There has long been a need for increased mental health treatment and care in the Black Belt. The prevalence of mental illness in rural communities is the same as it is in urban areas, but patients in rural areas are usually diagnosed later and therefore require more intensive services.”

Partnerships and initiatives to address these problems include:

Reducing Stigma

* Development of NAMI family support groups in the West Alabama and Cahaba regions where currently none exist. NAMI provides family education to help caregivers provide vital support for their relatives in recovery from mental illness.
* Enhance education and stigma reduction efforts through a training program for community leaders and pastors. These individuals have the most potential to be agents of change in attitudes and perceptions about mental health issues.

Assisting Communities in the care and support of persons with mental illness

* Increase Community Care Network services and sponsor health fairs that provide free screenings for physical and mental health needs
* Conduct educational forums for rural, underserved populations
* Increase accessibility of services by recruiting more professional treatment personnel

Build Capacity for Integrating Primary and Mental Health Care

* Improve technology for transference of medical records between mental health offices. This will enhance continuity of care for individuals who have moved from one county to another
* Activate a mobile mental health van to bring assessment and basic treatment services to rural areas
* Enhance partnerships and help more mental health patients receive primary (physical) health care services

The mission of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is to reduce health disparities around the world. In the U.S., the foundation has concentrated on reducing mental health disparities by building health care worker capacity and support services for patients at the community level.

Source: Alabama Governor