A donation of $34.2 million will establish a youth mental health center at Indiana University medical school in Evansville.

National studies show mental health challenges have increased because of the coronavirus pandemic -- and more so in college-age people. But, college counseling centers saw a decline in those seeking services at the same time.

The Assessment and Intervention Center, part of Marion County's new Community Justice Campus, opened one year ago. The AIC is a clinic for people with mental health or substance abuse problems, including those who may have encountered law enforcement. It was created to divert more people with those health problems away from the criminal justice system.

The Irsay family is donating $3 million to Indiana University for a new research institute on the Bloomington campus that will focus on addressing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Libraries play a central role in many communities, providing books and information and helping people navigate challenges. Increasingly, those challenges are beyond the scope of what librarians are trained to handle like housing insecurity and mental illness. To meet the need, some libraries are hiring social workers.

An aging population is producing a growing number of Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnoses in the state. These increasing numbers have prompted first year students at the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to attend training seminars for caring for patients with these diseases.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Indiana Rural Health Association and Purdue Extension to reduce mental health stigma in farm communities and connect people to stress assistance programs.

Wheeler Mission’s new Center for Women and Children is open to offer assistance and support for women experiencing trauma and abuse.

Ray Lay, a 66-year-old Black veteran Hoosier, was recently elected to the national board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. His election gives hope that some of the most underrepresented groups will have an advocate on a national level.

Across the Midwest, there are not nearly enough psychiatrists, therapists or direct-care staff to treat a rising tide of young people spiraling into crisis. For these families, the strain can seem unbearable. It’s a story echoed across much of the country. This was true even before COVID-19.