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The number of IRC residents in need of timely access to urgent mental health assistance continues to grow; since 2016, individuals presenting for walk-in mental health screenings at our Walk -In & Counseling Center have increased steadily by 30%. IRMC's 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment ranked mental health the number one priority of thirteen identified health needs in IRC. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for IRC residents. Mental Health America's 2019 report ranked Florida nationally as: highest in the United States in adults with serious thoughts of suicide; 8th in adults experiencing any mental illness and 9th for adults with mental health concerns who reported inability to receive care. In IRC from 2015 to 2017, suicides doubled (17 to 34) and emergency room visits for major depressive disorder more than quadrupled (37 to 149). The Walk -In & Counseling Center is the only mental health agency in our community to provide immediate access•to mental health services. reducing the need for psychiatric hospitalizations and unnecessary emergency room visits as well as possible arrests due to untreated mental health issues. Our program provides mental health care that prevents the need for the IRC community to pay for costlier intervention. We also fill treatment gaps in the community, meeting the needs of those who cannot afford insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid or district funding. Those living in or near poverty are overrepresented in groups struggling with mental illness and underrepresented in mental health treatment. The recent United Way report reflects 51 % of Indian River County households struggle to pay for basic needs let alone mental health care; with additional funding from the county, we can expand our sliding scale for IRC's ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population. Many people do not seek or have necessary mental health treatment due to access barriers such as financial limitations. Timely access and effective mental health care are critical for our community to be mentally healthier, to have reduced resident risk from avoidable harm, and to support the productivity of citizens of all ages. The Walk -In & Counseling Center cares for the disadvantaged and vulnerable that would continue to suffer with mental health symptoms and be at risk for development of more serious concerns if left untreated. The right services given at the right time decreases community economic burden from higher cost later intervention. The Mental Health Association in Indian River County does not receive any public funding to provide mental health services at our Walk-in center to indigent clients who have been IRC residents for under 6 months with the exception of the funding provided by Indian River County. Indian River County funded the Walk -In center $27,500 from 2012-2013 but lowered its funding by 275 in 2013-2014. With increasing needs in our community, we believe our current funding request for $30,000.00 is supported to meet the growing needs of the community. Assuming an average Cost Of Living Adjustment of 2.8% from 2012-2013 our current funding ask of $30,000.00 is still below the expected $32,900.00. April 10.2019 The Organization's Board of Directors has approved this app5tion on date): Ross Cotherman Name of President/Chair of the Board Nicholas Coppola, DO, MBA Name of Exec. Director/CEO frkt Signatt�ure Siga• ture- 140