HHS grants aim to improve mental health services among youth

Issue: October 2014

The US Department of Health and Human Services today announces $99 million in new grants to help improve mental health services for young people, according to a department press release.

“The Administration is committed to increasing access to mental health services to protect the health of children and communities,” Sylvia M. Burwell, secretary of HHS, said in the release. “Today, I am pleased to announce another step the department is taking to help ensure that our young people have access to the mental health services they need to reach their full potential.”

Sylvia M. Burwell

The grants will be used to help train new mental health providers, help teachers and others recognize mental health issues in youth and connect them to help and increase mental health services for young people.

The awards include:

$30.3 million for expanding the mental health workforce through 100 new grants for training programs for those that care for children, adolescents and young adults with, or at risk for, a mental health or substance use disorder;
$2.7 million for five grants to increase access to mental health services;
$1.6 million for two grants to support addiction counselors to increase access to substance abuse treatment services;
More than $48 million in 120 new grants to support teachers, schools and communities in recognizing and responding to mental health issues in youth; and
$16.7 million for 17 new grants to improve access to treatment for people aged 16 to 25 years who have or are at risk for serious mental health conditions.

For more information:

www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2014tables/behavioralworkforce/

http://beta.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/fy14-grant-awards-nitt.pdf