Biloxi, Mississippi – The Bethel Free Health Clinic in Biloxi has been awarded a $75,000 grant to enhance its services and provide mental health treatments to underserved individuals in the community. The clinic, which already offers free primary care for uninsured residents, aims to use the funding to expand its mental health services, addressing issues such as depression and anxiety that many of its patients face.
The clinic’s executive director, Jan Vest, highlighted the importance of this grant, especially given the increasing financial and emotional challenges many people in the community face. “You can imagine how hard it is for a patient who’s working and may have a family and they don’t make enough to have health insurance,” Vest said. “So, they come in and they’re rather depressed or dealing with anxiety and they have nowhere to go because they don’t have any money to pay for their treatment or medications.”
With the grant, Bethel Free Health Clinic plans to not only provide crucial mental health services but also raise awareness about the available options for patients struggling with mental health issues. The clinic’s volunteer-based model, with nurses and physicians volunteering their time, allows it to provide essential healthcare at no cost to those in need.
This funding comes at a critical time, as many individuals in the region are still grappling with economic hardships and the psychological toll of ongoing challenges. By offering mental health treatments, the clinic aims to support the well-being of its patients, helping to address both physical and mental health needs in a holistic manner.
