Huntsman Corporation, an American MNC has pledged $150 million to the University of Utah to develop its mental health department. Last week, the Huntsman family announced its contribution stating the need for mental health services. The funds will be used to establish the Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah.
This new project will boost the university’s pre-existing University Neuropsychiatric Institute. This will massively improve mental health research programs and ensure better public mental health awareness.
University of Utah’s president Ruth Watkins sees this as a unique opportunity. This can potentially make the university a national and world leader in mental health commitment. Also, this is not only beneficial for the university, but also for the whole state and the nation too.
Any further details on the fund’s allocation will be provided on Monday at a press conference.
University of Utah also home to Huntsman Cancer Institute
The huntsman family has always been one of the major contributors to the University of Utah. Besides this, this contribution will be the Hunstman family’s second contribution, the first being Huntsman Cancer Institute, which is also at the university itself. HCI was established in 1995 with a contribution of $100 million.
In a statement by Karen Huntsman, she tells that mental health issues are a part of every household today. The contribution will make Utah a national leader in serving people and families with mental health issues.
Huntsman Corp. was founded by Jon Hunstman Sr. who died recently in 2018. Being a billionaire, Huntsman Sr. had donated to various charities and noble causes. After his death, his family vowed to continue working for the common people of the nation.
According to president Watkins, a new CEO will be recruited to run the mental health institute. A new team of doctors, nurses and medical professionals will also be hired. The university and Huntsman Corp were in talks for several years and now it has been finalized.
