Carbondale Reporter

Mental health is often relegated to the background, yet there are a number of entities dedicated to bringing awareness to the forefront through education if not funding.

Centerstone a nonprofit health system, is one of 15 recipients of a Zero Suicide grant award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce reported Centerstone has been awarded $2 million that will be provided in $400.000 increments over a five-year period. The purpose of the grant is to further develop its Zero Suicide initiative and it comes in a timely fashion.

Reports indicate suicide is on the rise nationally, particularly for those between the ages of 25 to 44. Figures from 2018 show suicide was the 10th-leading cause of death, claiming 44,000 lives. Everyday conditions have deteriorated since March 2020, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of jobs changed lifestyles to people working at home and stress over health have exacerbated challenges to a strong mental outlook.

The grants will be used in Centerstone’s physical footprint of Illinois, Florida, Indiana and Tennessee.

“We’re fortunate to have been utilizing the Zero Suicide approach in Tennessee since 2014 and in other Centerstone states over the past few years. This new grant award will allow us to advance the field of suicide prevention and ultimately have a much bigger impact,” Becky Stoll, vice president of crisis and disaster services and project director for Zero Suicide.

The staff of Centerstone will be able to use grant funds to screen all individuals under care with thoughts of suicide. There will be risk assessment and evidence-based treatments. Clinical staff will also receive the necessary education to respond to the needs of patients not only in directing treatment and evaluating outcomes. Among the entities Cornerstone will work with is the Veterans Health Association and the Veterans Administration.