Deaconess and St. Mary’s recently announced that they have received the prestigious Wellness Frontiers Award from the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) for their Project AWARE program (Youth Mental Health First Aid).
The HLC first developed the Wellness Frontiers Award to honor best practices and programs about health and wellness in communities and organizations throughout the U.S. All the winners have been organizations that create and apply cost-effective, measurable community programs to encourage wellness and disease prevention across the nation.
“Deaconess and St. Mary’s are providing much-needed awareness and vital health information throughout the community in southwestern Indiana,” Debbie Witchey, executive vice president of the HLC, said. “What impressed us most about the work being done through Project AWARE are the evidence-based results in achieving improved community health and the ability to replicate this program throughout the country.”
The goal of the AWARE program is to raise awareness of mental health as well as substance abuse problems among youths in school.
“At St. Mary’s, we have a comprehensive commitment to heal body, mind and spirit with special attention to those who are most vulnerable,” Keith Jewell, president of St. Mary’s Health, said. “Evidence supports that improving the mental health of our community begins with earlier awareness and intervention. Through Project AWARE, people who care about area youth receive the tools and training they need to recognize children on the verge of mental health challenges and help set them on a path toward healing.”
