Mental Health

Improve mental health and reduce factors that promote violence in communities.

This focus area is very important since for the millions of adults and children who are overwhelmed by a few or many risk factors, many get physically sick, but many others turn inward (in depression) or lash out (in anger and violence). These emotional and behavioral responses can lead to efforts to self-medicate, for example, with food, alcohol, prescription drugs (leading to misuse), and other drugs (leading to abuse). And, self-medication can lead to or exacerbate other problems, such as obesity, addiction, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and physical ailments and diseases.