KOKOMO, IN / PRESS RELEASE – United Way serving Howard and Tipton Counties’ Board of
Directors has announced a $34,868.40 grant to help fund the Education program through
Mental Health America of North Central Indiana.

Donations given through the Annual Fundraising Campaign, both individually and through
workplace campaigns make this grant possible. United Way donors make it possible for Mental
Health America to give community members the right tools to help individuals suffering from
mental illnesses the help they deserve.

“Education is a key component of reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness,” said Jill
McKibben, Program Director of Mental Health America of North Central Indiana. “Funding
received from the United Way of Howard & Tipton Counties aided our agency in providing
educational opportunities to members of our community through many educational programs
including Mental Health First Aid, First-Responder Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health
First Aid, QPR, Empowerment Circle, Emotions 101 and ThumBody Special. Thanks to the
support of the United Way, we are working to make a difference by educating our community on
how to recognize the early signs and symptoms of mental illness, and reduce the stigma.”

The educational programming provided by Mental Health America impacts many different age
groups, in an effort to reduce stigma around mental health, beginning at three years-old with
Emotions 101. In 2018, the ThumBody Special program was presented to over 300 second grade
students. MHA was able to train over 180 individuals and first-responders to be mental health
first aids through multiple courses.

“We are thankful that our donors help fund a program that reduces stigma in our community
around mental illness,” said Libby O’Brien, Interim Executive Director of United Way serving
Howard and Tipton Counties. “”We are grateful that Mental Health America is equipping our
community members with the right tools to fight mental illness.”

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