Youth mental health services to receive $99M in HHS funding
By - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took a huge step forward this week to increase access to mental health services for young people. HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced that the agency awarded $99 million in grants to help train new mental health providers. Additionally, the grants will assist teachers and others in recognizing mental health issues in today’s youth and connecting them to help.
“The Administration is committed to increasing access to mental health services to protect the health of children and communities,” said Burwell said in a statement. “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.”
Approximately half of the funds – $48 million – will support teachers, schools and communities in recognizing and responding to mental health issues among youth, HHS said. Through 120 new Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) grants to state and local educational agencies, HHS wants to create safe and secure schools, as well as promote the mental health of students in communities across the country.
According to HHS, $30.3 million will be used to expand the mental health workforce through 100 new grants to training programs. These programs aim to train new mental health and substance abuse health professionals who treat children, adolescents, and young adults with, or at risk for, a mental health or substance use disorder.
Additionally, $2.7 million will go toward five new grants that support youth Minority Fellowship Programs to increase access to mental health services for youth and young adults in the US. There will also be $1.6 million awarded for two new grants to support addiction counselor Minority Fellowship Programs to increase access to substance abuse treatment services for youth in America.
The Obama Administration has taken numerous steps to reduce barriers that can prevent individuals from getting the help they need for mental health and other behavioral health problems, HHS said.
“The historic expansion of insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse services made possible by the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act will help make mental health services more affordable and accessible for tens of millions of Americans,” HHS explained.
There will also be $16.7 million awarded to support 17 new Healthy Transitions grants. The money will be used to improve access to treatment and support services for youth and young adults ages 16 to 25 that either have, or are at high risk of developing, a serious mental health condition.
