CFO issues $200K mental wellness grant

Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. has issued a $200,000 mental wellness grant.

Made through its Advancing Mental Wellness Grant Program, the CFO funding is being awarded to a collaboration led by Burrell Behavioral Health and the Healthy Living Alliance of the Ozarks, according to a news release.

The grant program, which may provide $600,000 over three years if the recipients meet grant-renewal requirements, is designed to fund projects that reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health care. A primary goal is reducing the suicide rate among men in the Springfield area.

“As the CFO worked to identify solutions to such a challenging need, we quickly realized collaboration would be key to the program’s success,” said Bridget Dierks, vice president of programs at CFO, in the release. “The organizations involved in this project are local leaders in mental and public health, and we are confident their efforts will save lives.”

Burrell’s funds will go toward its Our Networks Engaged program, which helps businesses train staff and implement in-house suicide prevention measures. The HLA is a collaboration of around 40 health and community organizations, including Burrell, CoxHealth and Mercy.