Darclei V. McGregor Memorial Fund

We would like to perpetuate the memory of Darclei V. McGregor, who was a true champion for mental health. Darclei was a Mental Health Counselor (Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist) who provided counseling help for individuals in crisis for over 30 years. In January 2023, Darclei passed away leaving a legacy of care and compassion for those who were in crisis and suffered from mental illness. As our team prepared to celebrate her life and all she meant to us, we realized that we could provide an opportunity for a future mental health professional to realize their dream. This opportunity would also further Darclei’s legacy of care and compassion. Hence, the Darclei V. McGregor Fundraiser and Memorial scholarship. Below is information that shows the need for Mental Health Professionals in our world today. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) prior to the Covid 19 outbreak and subsequent pandemic, one in five people (51.5 million) people had a mental illness. In communities across the country (and around the world), fear of contracting the deadly virus, loss of loved ones, painful social isolation, and economic setbacks eroded community well-being and created an unprecedented need for mental health providers. Here are a look at some alarming statistics taken from statistical data collected from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), Mental Health America (MHA) , and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) : • Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. • More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. • 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year. • 1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point in their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness. • 1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. • Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 • The national rate of adults experiencing suicidal ideation has increased every year since 2011-2012. • In 2022 the percentage of adults who reported serious thoughts of suicide was 4.58%, which is an increase of 664,000 people from the data in the year prior. Currently, the mental health community is facing a shortage of qualified mental health providers, which is projected to worsen over the next few years. For instance, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration to meet the mental health needs of the United States Population we “need to add 10,000 providers to each of seven separate mental healthcare professions by 2025 to meet the expected growth in demand.” Our country (our world) needs qualified mental health clinicians and providers.