The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation marked World Diabetes Day and the third anniversary of its Together on Diabetes initiative by announcing four new grants focusing on the link between type 2 diabetes, depression and distress.

According to the American Diabetes Association, people living with diabetes are at greater risk for depression. The shock of a diabetes diagnosis and the daily challenge of managing diabetes can take a toll on an individual’s mental well-being and cause distress. Both depression and distress can negatively affect the patient’s ability to engage in self-management education and behaviors and follow the medical treatment established by the patient’s health team.

“Type 2 diabetes and depression or distress are common comorbidities associated with poorly controlled diabetes and suboptimal health outcomes,” said John Damonti, president, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. “There is a need for the development of short- and long-term diabetes care models and self-management programs that address these conditions in an integrated way—especially for heavily burdened populations.”

To address the important connection between diabetes, depression and distress, the Foundation awarded four three-year, $450,000 grants for projects in the U.S.The Health Choice Network of Florida, a federally qualified health center serving Miami, will integrate behavioral services and care navigation into the diabetes care of high-risk patients diagnosed with diabetes and depression. The University of Michigan will evaluate and compare the effectiveness of diabetes self-management and psychosocial support, offered at African American churches in Detroit through either a parish peer leader or a parish nurse, and compare those approaches to diabetes self-management education alone.

The University of Colorado will develop and implement a program to enhance the ability of federally qualified health centers and primary care practices in the Denver area to provide coordinated, patient-centered care for patients with diabetes and additional mental and behavioral health needs through both clinic- and community-based services. The East Carolina Universitywill design and evaluate a unique collaborative, stepped care and “treat to target” intervention for patients in rural eastern North Carolina who have both uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and comorbid distress and/or depression.

Together on Diabetes is the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation’s flagship philanthropic initiative to promote health equity and improve health outcomes among adults living with diabetes in the U.S., China and India—the three countries with the largest prevalence of diabetes. Since its launch on World Diabetes Day 2010, the U.S. initiative has committed more than $53 million to 25 grantees working in more than 60 communities. The China and India initiative has committed an additional $4.4 million to nine grantees with broad networks to reach, educate, serve and mobilize people and communities.