StarVista gets Kaiser grant to reduce mental health stigma

Kaiser Permanente announced a $90,000 grant to Star Vista Pride Center of San Mateo County, part of a $2-million dollar investment in Northern California to support community organizations in their work to reduce the stigma around mental health.

StarVista’s project will deal with the dual stigmas of being LGBTQ+ as well as having mental health challenges. StarVista will reach out to the community through trainings, media, peer support, and social events.

“May is Mental Health Month, so this grant is very important,” says Sheila Gilson, Senior Vice President and Area Manager of the Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center. “Only by encouraging people to start talking about mental health issues are we going to overcome the stigmas attached to mental illnesses and finding care.”

StarVista of San Mateo County and 24 other Northern California organizations were awarded community health grants, including school districts, youth and family services and community coalitions that bring together a variety of stakeholders and agencies to serve people that historically shy away from getting mental health services.

“Stigma is influenced by our cultural belief systems and it impacts our decisions to seek care, even in times of crisis,” said Yener Balan, MD, FAPA, executive director of Behavioral Health for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. “Kaiser Permanente believes that a person’s culture should be at the center of their health care experience, not a barrier to getting the care they need.”

The $2 million anti-stigma investment will support community organizations in developing trainings, public forums and awareness campaigns that are customized for specific populations. This is the first part of a three-year initiative.