On August 23, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) received over $64 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to combat the mental health crisis in the country. This is part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the nation and reinforces his administration’s commitment to addressing mental health issues. 

The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant program has been granted $59.4 million as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), which provides unprecedented funding to tackle mental health issues and improve community safety. This is part of a larger mental health investment plan of the BSCA, which will allocate a total of $250 million in supplemental funding from FY 2022-2025.

“This funding underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to improving access to mental health services across the country,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “With these critical investments, states and territories will be able to continue to serve as an invaluable safety net for mental health services for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, including those impacted by gun violence, disasters, and other emergencies.”

“This funding will help states and territories build a stronger public mental health system to assist people in times of crisis and as they pursue long-term recovery,” said Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and leader of SAMHSA. “SAMHSA is committed to ensuring that people across the country have access to mental health services.”

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