Medical Schools Invited to Apply For Service Grants

The American Psychiatric Foundation has launched the Helping Hands Grants Program, which will provide $5,000 grants to medical schools for mental health service projects, particularly in underserved minority communities, that are created and managed by medical students.

These projects can be conducted with community agencies or in conjunction with medical school outreach activities.

The Helping Hands program was established to encourage medical students to participate in community service activities, particularly those focused on underserved populations; raise awareness of mental illness and the importance of early recognition of illness; and build an interest among medical students in psychiatry and working in underserved communities.

The program, which is modeled after a similar primary care program administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, is supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.

Altha J. Stewart, M.D., president of the American Psychiatric Foundation, commented, “We hope these grants will foster an interest in psychiatry and a desire as future physicians to give back to the community.”

Medical schools are eligible to apply for grants. All projects will be conducted under the supervision of medical faculty. Medical students must be in their second, third, or fourth year of medical school at the time they are engaged in community service.

The deadline for applications is June 15.

More information is posted at the foundation's Web site at<www.psychfoundation.org>.▪