HHS Awards $383.4M in Grants for Behavioral Health and Crisis Response

Another $81.4 million will fund substance use treatment and prevention initiatives, while $50 million will support mental health programs.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $383.4 million in grants to strengthen behavioral health treatment, substance use prevention and crisis response services across the country.

Of the total funding, $252 million will support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, suicide prevention and mobile crisis services, through grants administered by HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher Carroll said 988 has become a key access point for behavioral health care, while emphasizing the need to connect people in crisis with treatment and recovery services beyond the initial response.

“These investments will strengthen access to treatment and recovery services while ensuring that people in crisis can get the immediate help they need,” Carroll said.

Another $81.4 million will fund substance use treatment and prevention initiatives, while $50 million will support mental health programs.

The largest allocation, $205.8 million, will go toward 988 State and Territory Local Capacity Building/Cooperative Agreements to help states and territories improve local 988 response capacity.

Other major awards include $19.9 million for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements and $14.3 million for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative – Category II Treatment and Service Adaptation Centers.

HHS is also providing $13.4 million for Rural Emergency Medical Services Training and $12.8 million for the Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Healthcare initiative.

The latest awards follow several recent HHS funding announcements targeting behavioral health and substance use services.

In September, HHS announced $77 million in grants for substance use treatment and prevention, supporting programs focused on prevention, treatment, recovery and community mental health.

In August, the department awarded $96.7 million for behavioral health services and initiatives. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also announced more than $700 million in new funding opportunities in June for services addressing mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.

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