The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund announced it is awarding more than $4 million over three years to organizations focused on addressing the significant brain health needs of veterans in the United States. RUSH’s Road Home Program, the Headstrong Project and Stop Soldier Suicide will use the funding to expand current offerings and launch new mental health programs for the U.S. veteran and military communities.
The Lundbeck US Charitable Foundation directs its funding to charitable organizations that share Lundbeck’s dedication to restoring brain health, especially in vulnerable populations facing brain health challenges. Among its key areas of focus are the veteran and military communities — which experience a disproportionate burden of mental health disorders because of their unique experiences serving their country.
Nearly 40% of veterans age 18 to 25 and more than 25% of all veterans 18 and older had either a substance use disorder or a mental illness in 2021, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
And reaching veterans with critical mental health care can be challenging. About 60% of military personnel who experience mental health problems reportedly do not seek help, and one of the most frequently reported barriers is concerns about stigma.
“The veteran community in America has a well-identified need for greater access to critical mental healthcare,” said Molly Poarch, president of the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund. “We are proud to support these organizations and help expand their impact in addressing this significant need.”
Road Home Program
The Road Home Program helps veterans, active-duty service members and their families make healthier transitions to civilian life by offering specialized mental health care, peer-to-peer outreach, counseling and community resource navigation.
This includes evidence-based care for PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and multisystemic therapy, child and family counseling, service and resource navigation and public awareness programming. The Road Home Program will use the funding to enhance continuity of care, improve the intensive outpatient program model, and ensure program sustainability.
“We are energized by the shared passion of the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund in helping the Road Home Program reach more veterans, active-duty service members, and families — regardless of discharge status or ability to pay,” said Robert Shulman, MD, acting chair of RUSH Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and director of the Road Home Program.
“Not only will this support enable us to expand our efforts to deliver evidence-based, culturally competent mental and behavioral health care to veterans and their families, innovative therapies developed at the Road Home Program have started to help thousands of non-veterans dealing with trauma-related mental health issues.”
The Headstrong Project
The Headstrong Project is a nonprofit mental health organization that has developed a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive treatment program addressing the psychological aftermath of trauma for veterans, service members and family connected to their care. Funding from the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund will help the Headstrong Project expand its footprint to areas with low accessibility of mental health care and ensure that the care journey is comprehensive and effective.
“This contribution from the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund will be used to help us grow the impact of our counseling services for our military community,” said Dan Kaepernik, chief executive officer. “We’re grateful to receive funding from an organization that is passionate about driving greater awareness and support for the mental health needs of military families and our efforts to make a difference. Together, we’ll work to help all veterans, service members and their families get the help they need to triumph over trauma.”
Stop Soldier Suicide
Stop Soldier Suicide is the only national nonprofit focused solely on reducing the military suicide rate. Powered by relentless innovation, Stop Soldier Suicide delivers a one-of-a-kind suicide intervention model, informed by data insights and driven by a technology-first approach to reduce military and veteran suicide rates and save lives, regardless of period served or discharge status. The grant from the Lundbeck US Charitable Foundation will help it expand suicide prevention, counseling and intervention in all 50 states.
“As we accelerate progress toward our goal of reducing military and veteran suicide rates by 40 percent no later than 2030, contributions from organizations like the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund help us deliver thousands of hours of evidence-based, suicide-specific care to some of the highest risk veterans struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” said Chris Ford, chief executive officer of Stop Soldier Suicide. “Together, we can stand as allies against military suicide and for the mental wellness of the military and veteran communities.”
