The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan: Dedicated to Educating About Mental Health

The Mental Health Foundation was created in 1990 by Touchstone innovare, the largest case management agency in Kent County serving the mentally ill population. The Foundation was started "to create and sustain a community which supports and understands people with mental illness." A major goal of the Mental Health Foundation is to reduce the demoralizing stigma that is associated with mental illness. Stigma is the number one barrier to people seeking treatment. We must foster a deeper understanding of mental illness, its impact on the individual, their family and on our community as a whole. Our work includes giving grants to persons who receive mental health services, but primarily we are committed to building awareness and educating the community about the importance of good mental health.

Results

Ask Our Kids…

“People with mental illness can be very effective members of society. People with mental illness can have lives of their own. Mental illness is a sickness, not the way someone wants to be. Most stigmas are not true and it is an illness, people don’t choose to be mentally ill.”

-Student, Godfrey Lee High School

“I learned a lot about the symptoms of depression and anxiety. I also now understand my brother a lot better now that he has suffered from depression for two years, along with suicide attempts.”

-Student, Forest Hills Eastern

“In the past three weeks I have learned how much Grand Rapids cares about the mentally ill. I had no idea how much Grand Rapids takes care of its mentally ill.”

-Student, Grandville Middle School