DAYVILLE — The National Council for Behavioral Health recently announced United Services is one of 10 community behavioral health organizations nationwide that will participate in a new initiative aimed to help eliminate tobacco and cancer disparities among people with behavioral health conditions.

During the seven-month program, United Services will partner with technical experts to develop and implement action plans to enhance tobacco and cancer control and prevention efforts directed toward people with behavioral health conditions. The program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco & Cancer Control.

United Services, Inc. is a non-profit, comprehensive behavioral health center, offering more than 30 mental health, addiction and social service programs, as well as the region’s only domestic violence program.

 “We are excited to continue to bring innovative programs to northeastern Connecticut,” said Diane L. Manning, president/CEO of United Services. “We are committed to improving the health outcomes for our community through comprehensive behavioral and social service programs, and believe a focus on tobacco cessation will have a positive impact on the people we serve.”

According to the National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco & Cancer Control, tobacco use rates among people with mental illness and addictions are 94 percent higher than adults without these disorders and of the 440,000 annual tobacco-related deaths in the US, half are among people with a mental illness.

United Services will implement the program in conjunction with its Behavioral Health Home initiative, which provides and manages primary health care and promotes wellness initiatives for clients who have incurred high hospitalization costs. The program seeks to improve the health care of individuals while saving state taxpayers significant dollars.