HHS funds new $46M behavioral health program for Mental Health Awareness Month

The Biden administration has announced more than $46 million in behavioral health funding opportunities in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month.

“This funding will improve the quality of care for underserved populations, support suicide prevention and early intervention strategies for young people, make significant contributions to the integration of primary and behavioral health care, and provide essential training and technical assistance to those working in the field,” said Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The funding initiative supports the HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s strategic priorities of preventing substance use and overdose; enhancing access to suicide prevention and mental health services; promoting resilience and emotional health for children, youth and families; integrating behavioral and physical health care; and strengthening the behavioral health workforce. Funding will focus on four specific areas:

1. The Minority Fellowship Program($15.4 million) aims to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racial and ethnic populations.
2. The Cooperative Agreements for the Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program($14.9 million) supports states and tribes with implementing youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies.
3. The Addiction Technology Transfer Centers Cooperative Agreements ($9 million) develop and strengthen the specialized behavioral health care and primary health care workforce that provides substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services.
4. The National Center for Mental Health Dissemination, Implementation and Sustainment Cooperative Agreement($7.5 million) will build the capacity of grant recipients, as well as organizations that oversee or directly provide mental health services, to improve the implementation of evidence-based change management processes that guide mental health services.

The mental health issues that came to the surface during the pandemic persist both in and out of the workplace. More than half of the 20% of U.S. adults who experience mental illness each year are not receiving treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health

A recent survey by CVS Health found that many employees look to their employers and coworkers for mental health support. Employee assistance programs (53%) and peer groups (52%) have the highest levels of trust for information about mental health issues. Seventy percent of fathers are likely to turn to EAPs for support, compared with 47% of mothers.

Related: Psychedelic drug therapy: Alternative mental health benefits that some employers offer

“Continuing to invest in informed and equitable approaches to mental health and substance use is essential to the health and well-being of individuals and families,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said. “These grants directly impact the behavioral health of communities around the nation and are a critical part of the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration to enhancing accessibility of evidence-based, effective behavioral health care services.”