The UCLA Depression Grand Challenge was awarded two years of funding from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health under the DMH+UCLA Public Partnership for Wellbeing in July 2020. This funding was to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing STAND in community colleges, as community college students are less likely to have access to mental health services and face significant need.
The STAND approach, both the system of care and the technology, aims to enhance mental health equity for ELAC students by providing access and engagement. In addition to providing evidence-based treatment with clinical care delivered by DMH providers, STAND at ELAC will include the services of a social worker to address food and housing insecurity when needed. An added bonus for this project is that the Depression Grand Challenge team will engage and train 25 ELAC students as certified coaches, which training and service will be compensated, contributing to the participants’ and the coaches’ resiliency and life goals.
About PPFW: The DMH + UCLA Public Partnership for Wellbeing is a high impact partnership, between the LA County Department of Mental Health and UCLA, designed to strengthen communities and improve the wellbeing of Los Angeles County residents and greater society by providing a holistic foundation for addressing inequities and advancing wellbeing for all.
For more information about PPFW, visit the PPFW webpage.
