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On an ongoing basis, Wailuku nonprofit Ka‘ehu invites families impacted by the August 2023 wildfires to partake in lei making, lauhala weaving, plant stamping, T-shirt printing and other cultural activities.  The repetitive tasks ground attendees in their bodies as they reflect on their feelings and thoughts. Attendees can also participate in ho‘oponopono, lomilomi, grief counseling, and other services.  These activities are part of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s culturally grounded and holistic approach to Maui’s mental health response. Embracing the principles of trauma-informed care, it recognizes that a variety of alternative therapies can help individuals impacted by a collective trauma reflect on and improve their mental health.  

HCF’s Maui Strong Fund mental health strategy stems from Hawai‘i’s efforts to become a trauma-informed state. In February 2024, Gov. Josh Green declared Hawai‘i trauma-informed and directed the state Office of Wellness and Resilience (OWR) to implement a trauma-informed care framework throughout state departments and with community-based organizations. The framework integrates safety, trust and transparency, empowerment, collaboration, peer support, and honoring cultural, gender and historical issues.

HCF’s strategy has led to better coordination and more diverse therapeutic support options for fire-affected households. For example, the foundation has contracted nine clinicians and group practices to provide free therapy sessions to affected individuals—up to 10 sessions—and on-site mental health support at community meetings. It’s a short-term solution to reduce barriers to mental health care, such as lack of insurance or when individuals find it too difficult to get therapy sessions approved by their health insurance. “We really need to understand the needs of Maui and the needs of those serving those in Maui,” says Michele Navarro Ishiki, director of mental health services at Piha Wellness and Healing, and one of the contracted clinicians providing therapy funded by HCF’s Maui Strong Fund. Michele has been providing trauma-informed individual and community care to those affected by the Maui fires.

More requests for mental health support are expected as more individuals and families affected by the fire move into stable housing. Many partners and HCF grantees in mental health and wellness are preparing to meet the needs of people that will seek services in the upcoming months.

Read more at HawaiiBusiness.com.

Research estimates that 57.8 million people across the U.S. are experiencing challenges with various mental illnesses. Despite this, societal biases against mental health issues persist. Mental illnesses can be effectively treated, but there is a societal tendency to view mental illness differently from physical ailments. This stigma is particularly prevalent in Asian communities, where studies highlight it as the main barrier that prevents Asian Americans from seeking help.

Historically marginalized communities, such as Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities, face disproportionate challenges around access to and quality of mental health and substance use care. The Chinese community faces unique mental health challenges for cultural and structural reasons.

Deep-rooted cultural stigmas surrounding mental illness are a significant barrier. The perception of mental illness as a personal failing or a sign of weakness discourages individuals from seeking help.

In Chinese culture, the brain is regarded as the organ that governs all aspects of functioning. Consequently, mental health challenges are often perceived as indicative of a fundamental flaw in the brain, the command center of the body. This perception leads to the belief that individuals with mental health challenges are unreliable or unfit for social interaction, resulting in a perceived loss of social status.

To help address racial inequities and the associated stigmas that lead to disparities, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing built a directory of resources to support your community with tools and learning opportunities.

Read more at MentalHealthFirstAid.org.

In order to highlight pockets of excellence across the country, the NNED selects a partner organization to highlight once a month. ConnectFamilias has been selected as the Partner of the Month for October for Hispanic Heritage Month.

ConnectFamilias Family Center, mission is to build healthy communities where children and families can thrive and succeed. ConnectFamilias firmly believes that children flourish when their families are strong, and parents thrive when they live in environments that support their success and enable them to become productive citizens.

Some of the programs and services that are currently offered:

• Child and Youth enrichment
• Supportive Environment
• College Training
• Workforce Training
• Safety Training

Learn more about ConnectFamilias and its mission to build healthy communities.

View a list of previous NNED Partners of the Month.

The numbers are staggering: 39% of young people who identify as LGBTQ+ seriously considered attempting suicide within the last year.

The data, from a May 2024 study by the Trevor Project, a crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ youth, also shows that more than 1 in 10 (12%) actually attempted suicide. For transgender and nonbinary young people, it’s even worse – 46% report having considered suicide within the last year.

And only half of those who wanted mental health care were able to access it, the Trevor Project report said.

“There are unique challenges around stigma and persecution and lack of acceptance” for LGBTQ+ young people, said Adam Callahan, director of cross-functional planning for Vibrant Emotional Health.

“So one real reason to build this subnetwork is to give members of this community the safety of connecting with someone who understands what they’re experiencing, someone who won’t judge them. If they’re still closeted, in particular, you want someone who gets it and who starts with a baseline knowledge,” he said.

The implementation of a dedicated system of mental health care for LGBTQ+ people funded by the federal government is “a clear and direct sign there is care and concern around the needs of this community,” she said – a community that historically had to fight not just for recognition and respect, but also for equity in health care.

Read more at USAToday.com.

In order to highlight pockets of excellence across the country, the NNED selects a partner organization to highlight once a month. DiDi Hirsch has been selected as the Partner of the Month for September in awareness of Suicide Prevention Month.

Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center is the nation’s first and a model for suicide prevention centers across the globe. The center served and trained more than 175,000 individuals in 2022. The Survivors of Suicide Attempts Manual for Support Groups curriculum for treating people who have attempted suicide has been shared with more than 2,200 mental health professionals in 50 states and 54 countries.

Some of the programs and services that are currently offered:

• Crisis Line
• Therapy & Support Groups
• Training Programs
• Mental Health

Learn more about the DiDi Hirsch and its mission in suicide prevention.

View a list of previous NNED Partners of the Month.

Tribal nations and Urban Indian Health Organizations will receive $6.5 million in one-time grants for behavioral health services in Native American communities, the Governor’s Office announced Wednesday.

The Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission recommended the investment, the latest allocation of $300 million in funding to support behavioral health and developmental disabilities systems in Montana.

The Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health promotes the health and well-being of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in urban areas. It is dedicated to supporting Urban Indian Organizations in their mission to deliver healthcare services to these communities across Montana.

The Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health was founded in 2021 and is the second consortium in the nation with five member organizations, according to a spokesperson: All Nations Health Center (Missoula), Indian Family Health Clinic (Great Falls), Butte Native Wellness Center, Billings Urban Indian Health and Wellness Center, and Helena Indian Alliance.

The news release noted the $300 million investment was “a central component” of the governor’s budget, and in 2023, he signed House Bill 872, which allocated the funds.

Read more at DailyMontanan.com.