Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) have recognized May as Mental Health Awareness Month. The initiative has been observed nationally since 1949 and aims to promote mental health education and support to increase individual well-being and decrease the stigma often associated with seeking help for mental illness.
MDHHS has invested in initiatives that support mental health and well-being by expanding access and eligibility to programs that provide care.
The department has developed a new Bureau of Children’s Coordinated Health Policy and Supports, which has issued $6 million in grants for community mental health service programs to explore innovative ways to support children and families in crisis. Additionally, the bureau is overseeing efforts to improve behavioral health supports for youth and families with involvement in the child welfare system.
MDHHS has implemented three statewide lines, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Michigan Peer Warmline, and Frontline Strong Together Crisis Line.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
