ALEXANDRIA, Va. and PRINCETON, N.J. (October 8, 2024)—Mental Health America (MHA), with support from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Otsuka), announces the launch of a new Equity Impact Zone (EIZ) grant program designed to address mental health equity gaps within local New Jersey communities.
Understanding that factors such as housing, income, food security, safety, and freedom from discrimination are known to be key social drivers of mental health inequity, the mission of the EIZ program is to empower community-based organizations to implement resources tailored to the unique needs of their members. Recipients of the inaugural grants are Young Audiences (YA) New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania and the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ), a statewide nonprofit headquartered in Union County.
“It is our privilege to walk alongside the communities we serve as allies and advocates to overcome barriers and reduce inequities,” said Tarek Rabah, president and CEO, Otsuka North America Pharmaceutical Business. “We are happy to support this unique program which shifts the decision making to the community leaders who intimately understand the challenges of their members and can best identify the adequate resources needed to enable them to feel supported and empowered.”
Bridging gaps through community support
YA intends to allocate the EIZ grant in support of their Arts Impactive Initiative program, which addresses youth mental health in schools through artmaking in various forms. Partnering schools in Burlington County and Trenton participate in workshops, performances, family programs, and professional learning for teachers to better integrate social emotional learning into their lesson plans.
“Arts education experiences, led by trained teaching artists, are critical to children’s development by helping them to understand and express their feelings, to move forward through adversity, and to show empathy and compassion for others,” said YA President and CEO Michele Russo.
In collaboration with MHANJ, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) will launch a program aimed at supporting the mental health of individuals in need. With the support and guidance of MHANJ, TASK will implement a multi-level program to engage those using their services through access to peer navigators, a mental health support community, and mental health equity training.
“This pilot epitomizes our mission to engage at the grassroots community level to understand and empower persons living with a mental health condition and to lead the way in identifying the core issues and barriers that prevent equitable access to mental health care and support,” said MHANJ President and CEO Carolyn Beauchamp. “For more than 40 years, TASK has seen the countless ways that mental health impacts food insecurity and self-sufficiency. We are very pleased to partner with MHANJ to ensure that the people in our community gain accessible, equitable and meaningful access to mental health care and its transformative impact,” said TASK CEO Joyce E. Campbell.
Otsuka invested $1.02 million in this inaugural EIZ grant program. In 2025, MHA and Otsuka have plans to expand the program beyond New Jersey, into California and Maryland, with a goal of making an impact in the local communities that are home to Otsuka’s three U.S. offices.
“The EIZ program closely aligns with our commitment to eliminate systemic barriers to mental health where they exist,” said MHA President and CEO Schroeder Stribling. “Communities know their challenges—as well as their solutions—best. That’s why it’s critical to support local initiatives rooted in the identities, cultures, and languages of the people they serve.”
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About Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Young Audiences Arts for Learning NJ & Eastern PA, established in 1973, is the leading arts-in-education resource in the region, offering teaching artist-led performances, workshops, residencies, and professional learning programs to schools across New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. With an extensive roster of professional artists spanning various art forms, Young Audiences has impacted over 15 million children in its 50-year history. Committed to inspiring young minds and fostering inclusive learning environments, Young Audiences strives to ensure that every child receives rich and meaningful arts experiences. Through diverse and accessible programs, the organization aims to strengthen arts education, meet curriculum standards, and enrich cultural life in communities throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
About the Mental Health Association in New Jersey
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. The Association's state headquarters is in Union County. It has additional locations in Atlantic, Hudson and Ocean Counties, and affiliates in Essex, Monmouth, Morris and Passaic Counties. For more information visit https://www.mhanj.org/ or call 973-571-4100, ext. 123.
About the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) has been serving the Mercer County region since 1982. Today, TASK prepares and serves more than 11,000 meals, six days per week, at its Escher Street dining room and community meal sites throughout Greater Mercer County. In addition, TASK offers a multitude of resources to encourage self-sufficiency and improve quality of life including case management, education, workforce development, creative arts and the provision of basic necessities. More information can be found at www.trentonsoupkitchen.org.
About Mental Health America
Mental Health America is the nation’s leading community-driven nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being, resilience, recovery, and closing the mental health equity gap. Mental Health America’s work is driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of whole person health, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; and integrated care, services and supports for those who need them. Learn more at MHAnational.org.
About Otsuka
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide. Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health.
In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leader in the challenging areas of mental, renal, and cardiovascular health and has additional research programs in oncology and on several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue. These commitments illustrate how Otsuka is a “big venture” company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does.
Otsuka established a presence in the U.S. in 1973 and today its U.S. affiliates include Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI). These two companies’ 2,250 employees in the U.S. develop and commercialize medicines in the areas of mental health and nephrology, using cutting-edge technology to address unmet healthcare needs.
OPDC and OAPI are indirect subsidiaries of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 34,400 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 14.2 billion in 2023.
All Otsuka stories start by taking the road less traveled. Learn more about Otsuka in the U.S. at www.otsuka-us.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @OtsukaUS. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.’s global website is accessible at https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/.
Media contacts
Kara Rowland, 703.797.2588, for Mental Health America
Jill Roman, 215.595.8424, for Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.