Marshfield Clinic has been awarded a three-year Mental Health Awareness Training Grant totaling nearly $580,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This federal funding aims to enhance mental health awareness, education, and access in central and northern Wisconsin.

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SAMHSA, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, focuses on promoting mental health, preventing substance misuse, and providing supportive treatments to foster recovery and improve outcomes.

The grant will enable Marshfield Clinic to enhance its community capacity to recognize mental health issues, respond to crises, and assist youth and young adults in connecting with appropriate services throughout a 17-county region in northern, central, and western Wisconsin.

Efforts will include evidence-based training, resource development, community outreach, and mental health navigator support to improve early identification and access to behavioral health, crisis, and recovery services. Jay Shrader, vice president of community impact and social accountability at Marshfield Clinic, noted that mental health remains a pressing issue in many communities, and this funding will bolster existing efforts while creating new opportunities.

Implementation will particularly target Barron, Clark, Oneida, Price, Rusk, and Vilas counties, areas experiencing behavioral health workforce shortages and limited access to care, which contribute to high rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide risk. Notably, 14 counties in this predominantly rural service area are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, highlighting significant challenges in accessing services.

Over the next three years, the grant will facilitate:

- Mental health training for community members and Marshfield Clinic staff to improve their awareness and response skills regarding mental health issues.

- Development of behavioral health referral pathways in collaboration with Marshfield Clinic Behavioral Health to streamline service connections.

- Community outreach initiatives, including educational events through clinics, hospitals, and local partners.

Marshfield Clinic operates within a health service delivery framework of Sanford Health, serving areas in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.