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Contact: Ms. Kristen Frame Mental Health of Phone 740.788.0303 mhacompeerfia@alink.com |
Phone 740.522.1341 Fax 740.522.4464 |
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Press Release
Compeer Receives SAMHSA Grant
Local MHA wellness program helps those recovering from
mental illnesses
Newark,
OH, June 22, 2010: Mental Health America of Licking
County’s Compeer Program has been awarded a designation and support grant
from “25 Pioneers for Smoking Cessation,” a program of the Center for Mental
Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“SAMHSA 25 Pioneers for Smoking Cessation” is
the second phase of a project which was started in 2009, in which a competitive
process selected 100
projects throughout the U.S. These
projects targeted the education of consumers and behavioral health
professionals about the deadly
toll tobacco usage has inflicted upon individuals who experience severe and
persistent mental illness. Mental
Health
SAMHSA’s second phase
selected 25 of those original participants to continue with a second, more
targeted project. MHA’s winning proposal applies SAMHSA evidence-based
education on consumer tobacco cessation directed to behavioral health
professionals and case managers in
According to MHA’s
Compeer Coordinator, Kristen Frame, this next phase will deepen and broaden the
reach of their project, by educating the staff of area behavioral healthcare
organizations about the misconceptions concerning mental illness and addiction. It will provide them with accurate,
up-to-date information and the opportunity to participate in the tobacco
education process with little inconvenience or cost.
“This recognition
enables our program to continue to identify individuals with severe mental
illness in our community who use tobacco products, and to provide them with
accurate information about cessation opportunities,” said Kristen Frame. “This
program has demonstrated significant impact on tobacco cessation among
individuals who experience severe and persistent mental illness.”
Individuals reporting
a mental disorder in the past month consumed approximately 44.3% of all
cigarettes smoked in the
Compeer recruits,
screens, trains and matches volunteers in one-to-one friendship relationships
with adults receiving mental illness treatment. Compeer volunteers become
positive role models and mentors. They help raise self-esteem, increase social
and communication skills and encourage independence of their compeer friend
aiding them in their recovery.
Persons interested in
learning more about becoming a Compeer friend and mentor can contact Kristen
Frame at 740-522-1341 or by email at mhacompeerfia@alink.com.
For more information
on Compeer, and the other programs of Mental Health
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