ABOUT US
The Awareness Network is a unique nonprofit with a critically important mission.
One-in-five people will develop a mental illness in their lifetime Anxiety disorders and depression are especially prevalent. The causes can be biological, economic, and societal. Despite the numbers, only a third of our community’s kids, teenagers, young adults, and families will receive proper treatment. The greatest deterrents to treatment are stigma and cost.
The Awareness Network focuses on providing financial aid and mental health resources to children and their families, in addition to educating the public and addressing systemic problems that contribute to mental health disorders.
MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO
Addressing Cost
(Location: Greater Helena Area)
Mental health care services can often be too expensive for many middle and low-income families, which means children and their family members go without necessary treatment. The Awareness Network offers financial aid to families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access mental health services.
Helping Survivors of Suicide
(Location: Lewis and Clark County)
On average, a suicide leaves behind 6 survivors. Survivors are friends, families, and loved ones of the deceased. Statistically, it takes 4.5 years for a survivor to seek grief counseling, even though survivors are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide themselves. In order to combat suicide in our community and help our neighbors heal, the Awareness Network has partnered with Lewis and Clark County Health to offer grief counseling to any survivor of suicide. Similar programs have cut the time it takes for a survivor to seek help from 4.5 years to 39 days and significantly decrease the chances of additional suicide attempts.
Empowering Our Community
(Location: Greater Helena Area)
QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) is a tool that is often called “CPR for mental health.” The program offers simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Working with the Lewis & Clark Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Awareness Network helps put on numerous QPR trainings throughout the year.
Addressing the Link Between Economic Insecurity and Mental Health Disorders
The link between economic insecurity and anxiety and depression is predictably strong. The Awareness Network works to bring attention to and address the systemic causes of economic insecurity to better improve mental health outcomes and promote economic well-being.
OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bob Funk
Board President
Rich Aarstad
Board Member
Representative Rob Farris-Olsen
Board Member
Kali Wicks
Board Member
NONPROFIT STATUS
The Awareness Network is a not for profit, charitable organization formed under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the Awareness Network are tax-deductible as charitable contributions for US federal income tax purposes.
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DISCLAIMER
The materials and resources presented on www.AwarenessNetwork.org is not an attempt to practice medicine or give specific medical advice, including advice concerning the topic of mental health.
The information contained in this site is for the sole purpose of being informative and is not to be considered complete, and does not cover all issues related to mental health. Moreover, this information should not replace consultation with your doctor or other qualified mental health providers and/or specialists.
If you believe you or another individual is suffering a mental health crisis or other medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately, seek medical attention immediately in an emergency room or call 911. Using this website, you may be provided with links to websites operated by third parties. The Awareness Network does not control such websites and is not responsible for the content and operation of such sites. Links to other websites are provided solely as a courtesy and references in the links are not-endorsed, approved or sponsored by the Awareness Network. The Awareness Network does not verify the accuracy of the information on those websites. You must rely on the advice of your medical providers for treatment and diagnosis and not on the information contained in these websites. Use of this site and any other website to which a link is provided remains the responsibility of the user.