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State Receives $1.8M To Address Mental Health Needs Of Young Kansans

55Laney69, flickr Creative Commons

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment was awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address behavioral health needs of Kansans from birth to 21 years.

The four-year, $1.8 million grant will support primary care providers in increasing screening, diagnosing and treating adolescents with uncomplicated mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and ADHD; and help with treatment through the development of a phone and email support line.

“Working with KDHE through this grant means that we can provide our colleagues with the resources they need to do this work effectively and well and help children and families live happier, more fulfilling lives,” Rachel Brown, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, said in a news release.

The project, referred to as KSKidsMAP to Mental Wellness, will also improve access to telehealth technologies for those in rural and underserved areas.

The project is expected to start on July 1 and will be overseen by KDHE’s Bureau of Family Health.

Kylie Cameron is an intern in the KMUW News Lab.