Elias Foundation, Inc
Mental Health Scholarship Fund
About
The Prevalence of Mental Illness:
The number of mentally ill adults and children in the United States is both alarming and staggering.
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that one in four adults – approximately 61.5 million Americans – experiences a mental health disorder in any given year. One in 17 − about 13.6 million − live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. Approximately 20 percent of young people aged 13 to 18 experience severe mental disorders in any given year. For ages eight to 15, the estimate is 13 percent.
Why is it important to provide mentally challenged
students and their families with scholarship money for college?
People who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, whether depression, bi-polar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, personality disorders or schizophrenia have to deal with many obstacles. Other people cannot understand unless they have faced these challenges themselves. Unfortunately, society labels and rejects people with mental illness which makes it harder for these individuals to function in their day-to-day life and pursue their goals.
Progress does not follow the same linear fashion as it may for the average high school student.
Success may take longer, with many more attempts, for these individuals to complete a class or a program. The value of an education is priceless for someone who is facing mental illness. A scholarship can help increase their self-esteem and honor their accomplishments in the face of adversity
Scholarships for the emotionally challenged can not only help can ease some of the financial burden associated with school expenses, but also give the individual acknowledgment for their hard work and a chance to purse their dreams.
