Onvida Health is expanding behavioral health services in Yuma with a $500,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, with a focus on reaching veterans and Native American veterans in the community.
Strengthening Mental Health Infrastructure
The funding will strengthen Onvida’s Inpatient Behavioral Health Center and its Intensive Outpatient Program, according to hospital officials. These services are designed to support patients who need immediate care, ongoing treatment, or structured help transitioning back into daily life. Dr. Kristina Diaz, president of the Onvida Medical Group, highlighted the urgency of the expansion, noting that “six thousand or more veterans every year actually die due to suicide.” The grant will help expand care for conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, with the effort aimed at reducing barriers to care and improving access for those who may be struggling silently.
Adding Counseling Resources
The expansion includes hiring a trauma-informed, licensed mental health counselor. According to Diaz, this counselor “will be able to use this service not only for these patients, but in the time when they aren’t with those patients, they will be able to expand to all patients in Yuma.” This broader access addresses a critical need in the community, particularly for veterans living on fixed incomes or without reliable insurance coverage.
Richard Rowland, chairman of the House Committee for VFW Post 1763, emphasized the importance of this support. “Not every veteran has money in his pockets, or maybe has the proper insurance for whatever reason,” Rowland said. “So having the government, through the VA, helping those veterans is important.” Rowland also noted that compared to previous years, “veterans are finally gaining proper recognition, especially when it comes to their health needs,” reflecting the growing recognition of mental health as a priority for the veteran population in Yuma.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.kold.com/2026/04/16/onvida-health-expands-yuma-veteran-mental-health-services-with-500k-grant/