The announcement is part of a new HHS-wide initiative to tackle the nation’s mental health crisis.Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Office of Minority Health (OMH)—announced nearly $35 million in funding opportunities to strengthen and expand community mental health services and suicide prevention programs for America’s children and young adults. The American Rescue Plan funded $9.2 million. This announcement is part of a new Administration-wide initiative to tackle the nation’s mental health crisis. “Mental health is fundamental to the overall health and well-being of our country’s children and young adults,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to providing young people with the resources they need to thrive—during this pandemic and in the years to come. As part of our National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health, I’ll be traveling across the country with members of my leadership team to listen and learn about new and innovative ways HHS can support local communities in addressing youth mental health and other aspects of our country’s mental health crisis.” Last week, following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address, Secretary Becerra kicked off a National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health in an effort to hear directly from Americans across the country about the mental health challenges they’re facing, and engage with local leaders to strengthen the mental health and crisis care systems in our communities. On Friday, as part of the tour, Secretary Becerra and Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA, met with mental health providers and local leaders in Manchester, N.H. “These grant programs will expand access to proven treatments, interventions, and other recovery supports, while developing new and innovative solutions to strengthen mental health services for America’s children and young adults,” said Dr. Delphin-Rittmon. “As we travel to communities across the country, I look forward to engaging with local leaders on how the Department and SAMHSA can ensure that our mental health and crisis care systems don’t leave our young people behind.” |
