Mental Health, COVID-19 and the Grants that Help

There is a major mental health issue in the United States, especially among students. School districts are trying to find ways to best help these students. Lockdowns, distance learning, financial insecurities, and other difficulties that have arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic have intensified anxiety among students. Some students may not have access to the resources that they need to address their mental health.

In Georgia, the Houston County School District has received a grant to fund mental health services for students. The Houston County School District is one of three school districts in the state of Georgia that received the grant from The Georgia Department of Education. This funding will be allocated through Project AWARE and is set up to help students struggling with their mental health.

Here’s what the funds can be used for:

• Increase the awareness of mental health issues among students
• Provide training for adults who interact with the youth to detect and respond to mental health issues
• to connect students who have behavioral health issues with needed services

Zabrina Cannady, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services spoke on this grant award to the district:

The emotional well-being of our students is of primary concern at all times, but now more than ever due to the global pandemic that is impacting all aspects of life. Receiving the Project AWARE grant will give us access to resources aligned with our goal of supporting the whole child through a multi-tiered system of support, which promotes academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning.

Grants for Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous changes to how we live our lives, and with it, uncertainty, disrupted daily routines, financial pressures, and social isolation. We are constantly worrying about getting sick, how long the pandemic will last, whether we’ll lose our job, and what the future will bring. Information overload, rumors, and misinformation can make our lives feel out of control. Most people are unclear about what to do.

As a result, many have been experiencing higher levels of stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, and loneliness. And mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, have worsened.

Currently, there are 314 grants for Mental Health listed on GrantWatch.com. The following are a list of 10 that you should apply for today.

1. Grants to USA schools, LEAs, and charter school management companies to create mental health programs. Funding is intended to ensure children receive mental health services despite school closures due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) This program will support long-distance mental health services through telecommunication technologies.
   
   
2. Grants to USA, Canada, and International nonprofit organizations for programs and projects that address community needs related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Funding is intended to support health-related causes.
   
   
3. Grants and in-kind support to USA, Canada, and International youth and young adults to address the effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Funding is intended to support projects in areas including education, economic insecurity, mental health, food insecurity, and supply shortages. Eligible applicants are young people between the ages of 13-25.
   
   
4. Grants to USA, Canada, and International academic investigators for research on suicide and suicide prevention. Some applicants must submit a letter of inquiry before submitting a full application. The Funding Source has a strong interest in research related to survivors of suicide loss.
   
   
5. Grants of up to $5,000 to USA and territories artists in eligible disciplines for urgent physical and mental health care needs. Funding is intended to prevent the delay of important medical treatment and to mitigate the financial impact of unexpected health emergencies.
   
   
6. Grants to USA, Canada, and International investigators to research anxiety, depression, and other affective disorders in individuals with eligible skin diseases. Funding is intended to support research on mental well-being within the skin disease community, including, but not limited to, investigation of psoriatic disease on mental health, as well as interventions for addressing this comorbidity, inflammatory processes, stigma, the psychosocial impact of psoriasis, barriers to care, the financial burden of chronic disease, or other related areas.
   
   
7. Cooperative agreements to USA care providers and community and faith-based organizations to provide residential mental health services for unaccompanied immigrant children. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take up to four weeks to complete.
   
   
8. Grants to USA first responders, military personnel, and veterans with disabilities for sports and fitness programs that enhance their physical and mental well-being. 
   
   
   
9. Grants to USA health care providers and behavioral health providers for Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief. Funding is intended to support providers working on the frontlines during the pandemic. Grant funds may be used to offset revenue losses and expenses related to the pandemic. Additionally, funding may be used for expenses associated with preventing, preparing for, and responding to Coronavirus.
   
   
10. Grants of up to $5,000 per year and in-kind mental health services to USA school principals to promote behavioral health on school campuses. In addition to the monetary grant, a full-time mental health counselor will be placed at each recipient school.

Self-care strategies are excellent for your mental and physical health and can help to decrease stress and anxiety. Take care of your body and your mind and connect with others to benefit your mental health.