Local group gets Kaiser grant to reduce mental illness stigmas

Kaiser Permanente announced a $89,985 grant to Encompass Community Services of Santa Cruz County, part of a $2-million dollar investment in Northern California to support community organizations in their work to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

Encompass will be able to fund a youth peer outreach intervention and a public education campaign that will reduce the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders, which prevent youth and young adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness from seeking support and care in Santa Cruz County.

“May is Mental Health Awareness Month,” said Irene Chavez, Senior Vice President are Area Manager of Kaiser Permanente San Jose, which oversees the Santa Cruz County area. “Only by getting young people and adults to talk about mental health issues will we overcome the stigma that allows it to continue.”

Encompass of Santa Cruz 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.