San Antonio Standard

Boeing Co. has given a $150,000 grant to UT Health San Antonio that will support expert training for mental health providers who have had an increase in their caseloads due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The much-needed grant will go towards the previously established Boeing Scholar Program within UT Health’s Strong Star Training Initiative. According to the community mental health providers, they are also treating military personnel for related post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Now more than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased need for mental health support for veterans," Katy Dondanville, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UT Health San Antonio, said in a press release. "Helping veterans with PTSD gain access to evidence-based treatment is critical to their recovery and re-engagement in a meaningful life. We need trained and culturally competent mental health providers to meet the urgent mental health challenges made worse by COVID-19 among veterans. Boeing’s generous grant will help us in 2021 to continue to develop the mental health workforce across the country to meet that need.”