May is Mental Health Awareness Month
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking national partnership with Alma, a network of 25,000 mental health professionals dedicated to simplifying access to high-quality, affordable mental healthcare. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in our mission to provide comprehensive support to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
Why Alma? Alma was selected as our strategic partner due to their mission alignment and commitment to provider education that promotes inclusive and equitable care. Together, we have co-developed specialized continuing education training for mental health professionals, focusing on the unique experiences and needs of our community.
“Alma understands that our community faces unique challenges due to blindness or low vision that cannot be overlooked,” said Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. “This partnership brings together our expertise and Alma’s expansive provider network to ensure that more individuals and families receive the tailored mental health support they deserve.”
Introducing Our Mental Health Resource Center!
This Mental Health Awareness Month, the Foundation is also proud to unveil our new Mental Health Resource Center, now available on our website. This center offers tools, resources, and connections to help individuals and families manage the unique emotional complexities associated with vision loss. Key features include:
A curated directory of Alma therapists who have completed the specialized blind and low vision training. Later this year, Alma’s online platform will include a specialty label enabling blind and low vision individuals and their families to more easily identify and connect with therapists who have completed the training courses.
Personal stories from community members navigating their own mental health journeys.
Information for caregivers, family members, and clinicians supporting someone with vision loss.
Trusted organizations and programs aligned with our mission to provide comprehensive emotional and mental health support.
Downloadable tools and resources for managing vision-related emotional health.
Additionally, guidance from the Mental Health Advisory Council, including profiles of council members who are dedicated to supporting our community, will be available to further enhance the resources provided.
As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, we look forward to collaborating on additional tools and resources for individuals with vision loss, their supporters, and the broader mental health community!