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Gilead of Middletown wins $300,000 for mental health, trauma response

The Middletown Press - 6/16/2022

Jun. 15—MIDDLETOWN — Gilead Community Services was recently awarded $299,826 to fund new mental health and trauma response programming in Middletown.

The Middletown Common Council approved this American Rescue Plan Act funding for the agency located at 222 Main St. Extension.

The funds will provide new mental health services and resources to the Middletown community over the next two years, according to a press release. The three components of this project include mental health service navigation, trauma support services, and mental health awareness and education.

These will work in conjunction to serve a diverse population, including individuals experiencing homelessness, city employees, and anyone in the community in distress from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said.

"Critical to the mission of Gilead, access and equity remain central to these proposed programs. Historically, mental health services and trauma support came at a financial expense, making these resources inaccessible to those who often need the most support," the news release said.

Funding will greatly enhance the services at, and capacity of, Gilead's Mental Health Resource Center while offering these supportive services at no cost to community members, it said.

"We know that roughly 70 percent of adults in the country have experienced at least one traumatic event and often live with that trauma untreated," Dan Osborne, CEO of Gilead Community Services, said in a prepared statement. "The fear, isolation, and grief from the pandemic has taken a toll on our collective wellness."

The cornerstone of these new programs is mental health service navigation, which will engage individuals and families to assist them in accessing the mental health services that best suit their needs.

For information, visit gileadcs.org.

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