Meet the 2022 Winners of FHE Health’s Hope for Healing Scholarship!

Every March we announce the names of two people who have the national distinction of receiving our $5000 “Hope for Healing Scholarship.” This year’s winners are the undergraduate Jack Mattingly and graduate student Amy Burrell. They were among roughly 450 candidates nationwide—many of them very qualified—who originally applied for the award.

After narrowing the number of applicants down to a pool of 200 qualified individuals, our selection committee had the difficult task of choosing 10 finalists (five undergraduate finalists and five graduate finalists). Each of them is extraordinary, each with enormous potential in the field of mental and behavioral health, but our committee had the impossible job of choosing two recipients.

Supporting Mental Health in the Military and Law Enforcement

Mattingly and Burrell are making impressive contributions to mental and behavioral health in the military and law enforcement. Their work and studies align closely with the goals of FHE’s specialized treatment program for first responders, “Shatterproof.” It treats post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues in veterans, police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and other first responders. FHE’s commitment to serving this population with cutting-edge interventions like neuro rehabilitation has earned us a national reputation as a trusted treatment provider for the men and women who are protecting our communities and on the frontlines of emergencies every day.

We’ll be sharing the inspirational stories of this year’s winners, starting next week. (Catch Mattingly’s on March 25 and Burrell’s on April 1). For now, here are their profiles one more time:

Jack Mattingly is earning a B.A. in Psychology at the University of Arizona, having also served in the U.S. Army as a behavioral health specialist. Mattingly was born with a congenital bone disease. When he first applied for the military, he was told he’d never be accepted on account of his disability. That did not deter him. Six months later, and after a lot of hard work and physical preparation, he joined the Army and went on to make the Dean’s List in the Army’s behavioral health program. Helping other soldiers learn how to manage and cope with mental health issues inspired Mattingly to study psychology. Much like overcoming a physical disability and taking charge of his life gave him a sense of accomplishment, Mattingly wants people to know that seeking help for a mental health issue should be a source of pride. Read More About Jack Mattingly’s Story

Amy Burrell, a retired State Parole Agent and Chief Petty Officer, USCG, is pursuing a graduate degree in counseling at Post University. As a State Parole Agent with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Burrell oversaw the “mental health caseload.” This meant working with area agencies to reduce rearrests and recidivism of mentally ill offenders, by helping them achieve better treatment outcomes and connecting them with community services. In the process, Burrell spent many off-duty hours learning about mental health and addiction issues and gaining insight and perspective from experts in the field about how to serve this population. Thanks to her work and influence, her home state of Pennsylvania has now trained more agents who specialize in mental health and now requires all agents to take a mental health first aid course. After she graduates, Burrell wants to serve first responders with mental health needs. She also wants to volunteer as a counselor in high-stress incidents such as shootings and mass casualty events. What factors were decisive in this year’s final selection round? Read More About Amy Burrell’s Story

Congratulations to this year’s recipients! Don’t forget to check back on March 25 and April 1 when we’ll share the inspirational stories of this year’s winners Mattingly and Burrell!