The state is working to improve mental health support and services across Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced a series of summer webinars to support Michiganders in their emotional recovery from the pandemic through MDHHS Stay Well Crisis Counseling Program. 

The Stay Well Program is managed by an emergency behavioral health task force within MDHHS and uses federal disaster grant funding to provide mental health services to Michiganders who are struggling to cope with the ongoing pandemic.  

The Summer Resilience Series features a diverse group of guest speakers from around Michigan and is open to anyone with access to Zoom. 

According to the press release, the webinars will explore practices that can help people find hope, tranquility and optimism. 

The Summer Resilience webinars begin on July 20 and will continue once a week through August 31. 

MDHHS is providing another webinar series aimed at supporting parents and their young children ages 2-10. The Draw Your Feelings webinars are weekly, led by a licensed clinical mental health counselor and are designed to help children build emotional intelligence through guided drawing activities. 

A new 24/7 mental health crisis support line is now available with the goal of improving mental health services in the state. 

The Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) provides phone, chat and text support for residents in Oakland County and the Upper Peninsula, with plans to expand statewide by fall 2022. 

MiCAL supports people in crises or distress and it is also a warmline for people who need someone to listen. 

The warmline will connect individuals with certified peer support specialists and/or recovery coaches who are trained to support callers and who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises.  

MiCAL crisis specialists share resources with callers that can be accessed in their own communities and after the call, MiCAL can connect the caller with mental health providers if continued care is needed. 

Our CMF community has been supporting improved mental health services and supports, especially throughout the pandemic. 

As CMF reported, The Ethel & James Flinn Foundation which is focused on improving the quality, scope and delivery of mental health services in Michigan allocated its entire grantmaking budget in 2020 to COVID-19 emergency response efforts to meet the increased need.

The Flinn Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund partnered to support a virtual mental health therapy program. 

Several CMF members have engaged in work that supports the mental health of students. 

CMF reported that the Michigan Health Endowment Fund is among several CMF members that have supported the University of Michigan’s Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students (TRAILS) program, which provides mental health resources statewide. 

The Flinn Foundation has partnered with TRAILS to support the implementation in Washtenaw County Public Schools and Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan partnered with CMF members the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) Foundation, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Children’s Foundation and the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation to establish the Suicide Prevention Support for Health Care Clinics Working with Michigan’s Health-Disparate Populations initiative. 

Want more? 

Learn more about the webinars. 

Learn more about Michigan Crisis and Access Line.