How to Use the MWI

The MWI is designed to promote data-informed decisions, encourage more equitable allocation of resources, and support decision making in partnership with communities (rather than on the behalf of communities). Potential uses include:

  • Grant Application Support: The MWI can be used as a tool to provide evidence and data to justify community-level need for grant applications.
  • Community-Level Planning & Advocacy: The MWI’s ZIP Code-level focus can help inform community-level efforts to address factors related to mental wellness and make the case to decision makers.
  • Objective, Data Comparisons: The MWI provides a standardized way to compare factors contributing to mental wellness across ZIP Codes that can help inform decision makers about where to focus resources.
  • Prioritizing Geographic Areas: The MWI can be used to identify high priority areas within a larger geographic area based on data and evidence.

Example 1: Using the MWI to Understand the Mental Health Needs of a Community

An organization in Baltimore, MD works to improve educational outcomes for youth and ensure families are healthy and successful in the West Baltimore area. They are conducting a community participatory budgeting process this summer to decide how to allocate their funding.

Plan community conversations to review the MWI!

The non-profit meets with members of the West Baltimore community to talk about the drivers of overall mental wellness, poor mental health and substance use disorders in their community. They guide the conversation following the three steps below.