$2 million grant to address mental health for underrepresented groups in Minnesota

Key takeaways:

• Rainbow Health received $2 million to address mental health care issues in the LGBTQ+ community and other underrepresented groups.
• The United Health Foundation grant will help address disparities in people aged 14 to 25 years.

The United Health Foundation has awarded a 3-year, $2 million grant to Rainbow Health to address mental health disparities in underrepresented youth and young adults in Minnesota, according to a press release.

With the grant, the United Health Foundation and Rainbow Health will partner to help provide access to care for suicide, depression and anxiety to people aged 14 to 25 years who belong to the LGBTQ+ and Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities. Specifically, the grant will support high-quality mental health and substance use services such as transitional housing and health insurance that are culturally appropriate, according to the release.

“We believe every person deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life, and we are determined to do our part to break down the barriers to equitable health care, wherever they exist,” Margaret-Mary Wilson, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer of UnitedHealth Group, said in the release. “This grant underscores our commitment to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes by increasing access to mental health care for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth in the Twin Cities.”