Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative at CMU Health Awarded $10,000 Grant to Expand Mental Health First Aid Programming
SAGINAW, Mich. – The Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative (GLBRMHI) at CMU Health received a $10,000 grant from the Bay Area Community Foundation to expand Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) programming in Bay County.
“Mental Health First Aid gives everyday people the knowledge and confidence to recognize when someone may be struggling and the skills to respond with compassion before a crisis occurs,” said Dallas Rau, director of the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative at CMU Health. “We're incredibly grateful to the Bay Area Community Foundation for investing in this work. Together, we're building a community where more people know how to help, feel empowered to start the conversation, and connect others to the support they need.”
Since the partnership at CMU Health, GLBRMHI has trained 156 individuals in the Great Lakes Bay Region, giving them the tools to help someone in a variety of distressed situations, from a panic attack to an overdose.
“More than half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental health or substance use challenge in their life,” said Lorrie Garces, psychiatrist at CMU Health. “And we are extremely grateful for this funding to continue these early-intervention courses.”
Upcoming MHFA trainings are available on July 21 and August 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and located at the Bay-Arenac ISD Education Center. The cost is $25 per person, and this includes the registration fee, lunch, and refreshments.
Adults interested in the course can register for the July 21 session here, or the August 25 session here.
The Bay Area Community Foundation awards grants twice a year to local nonprofits and 501(c)(3)s in Bay and Arenac Counties. The Foundation’s mission is to fulfill a wide array of donors’ charitable wishes by building permanent endowment funds and serving as a leader for community improvement through effective grantmaking and collaboration.
For more information about GLBRMHI at CMU Health, please contact Dallas Rau at rau1d@cmich.edu.
About the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative at CMU Health
The Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Initiative at CMU Health is a collaborative effort dedicated to improving mental health awareness, access to care, and community support throughout the region. By partnering with local organizations, healthcare providers, and community leaders, GLBRMHI works to create lasting change and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
About CMU Health
CMU Health is a leading consortium advancing graduate medical education in partnership with Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw, together leading Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University’s residency and fellowship programs. CMU Health’s nationally recognized physicians train residents and deliver high-quality patient care across its health care system in the Great Lakes Bay Region and affiliated partner locations.
