While the need for mental health care rises in Michigan, philanthropy is taking steps to help increase access to care.

According to Mental Health America, more than 10 million adults have an unmet need for mental health care. Data shows nearly 50% of all adolescents are impacted by mental health issues, yet only 20% of those individuals ever receive effective treatment.

In Michigan, the need for mental health services is dire. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 4.2 million people in our state live in areas dealing with a shortage of mental health care professionals.

"It can be a long wait to see a psychiatric provider in our community, typical waits range from anywhere between a couple of weeks to several months," Megan Zambiasi, director, Pine Rest Psychiatric Urgent Care Center in Grand Rapids, said in an interview with WMMT.

CMF members around the state are working to support programs and initiatives that close the gaps and increase access for those dealing with mental health issues, especially in youth.

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) and The Children’s Foundation have all contributed to the University of Michigan’s Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students (TRAILS) program, which will provide services for students with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress in Detroit’s 110 public schools. These services are part of a $3 million total expansion set to take place over the next three years.

“This partnership and associated funding starts the process of building an integrated system of support and care for students where we properly apply real time screenings, intervention and support on school campuses to our families and students,” Dr. Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District said in a press release.

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, which works deeply in the area of mental health awareness and education, has also partnered with Metro Parent to create a series of articles focused on mental health awareness and understanding.

Additionally, The Children’s Foundation recently announced over $500,000 in grants to 14 organizations working to improve the mental health of Michigan youth, including TRAILS, as well as $50,000 to Common Ground to support runaway and homeless youth with needs including mental health services.

The importance of mental health for student performance is noted by experts.

“In a fast-paced environment, a counselor or school social worker can pull a resource from the TRAILS website and share it with students, and results are seen pretty quickly. It gives them this tool in their toolbox that works,” Joan Evans, director, the Prosper Road Foundation in Chicago and former school psychologist, said. “You can’t expect kids to perform well academically and to thrive, unless you focus on their mental health first.”

Want more?

Read the TRAILS expansion press release.

See Mental Health America’s State of Mental Health in America report.

Check out the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Mental Health Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) report.