With a goal to reduce cancer deaths by 40% by 2035, the Prevent Cancer Foundation has partnered with Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties (JFS) to address health disparities amongst adults affected by serious mental illness. The grant awards $100,000 over a two-year period for JFS to provide patient navigation services and boost health education on the benefits of cancer screenings.

“People experiencing serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder face greater barriers to cancer screenings and other preventative care due to individual factors – hesitance, fear, past traumatic experiences,” said Lillian Elsohn Whitcraft, JFS Senior Director of Mental Health Services. “At JFS, we want to breakdown those barriers and ensure individuals with SMI prioritize their physical health along with their mental health.”

During the program, JFS will work with 100 individuals with serious mental illness for them to garner one or more cancer screenings within two years. In addition, JFS will provide 500 community members with educational materials as well as conduct training sessions with other health professionals at partner organizations. The objective is to help individuals with SMI live longer, healthier lives.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to support JFS in their work to address the critical health disparities faced by adults with serious mental illness,” said Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “By supporting organizations that provide patient navigation services and education on the importance of routine cancer screenings in their communities, we aim to break down the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing essential preventive services. The collaboration with JFS is a significant step toward ensuring all populations have the opportunity to improve their well-being and achieve better health outcomes.”

For information about JFS’ Mental Health Services visit www.jfsatlantic.org. For information about the Prevent Cancer Foundation, visit www.preventcancer.org.