Funds will support school-based health centers that provide mental health care; grow the mental health workforce; and help pediatricians meet the mental health needs of their patients
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded $55 million to expand access to mental health care for young people. The most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that nearly 3-in-5 U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021 — representing a nearly 60% increase over the past decade. It also found that 22% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide during the past year. The need for action on youth mental health is clear, and HRSA is taking action to address these critical needs.
“Young people need easy, readily accessible ways to get the mental health support they need when they need it,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “That’s why the Health Resources and Services Administration is investing in increasing mental health care and support in schools and in helping pediatricians meet the mental health needs of their young patients. We will continue to use our community-based programs to both expand access to care and grow the behavioral health care workforce necessary to deliver that care.”
Today’s announcement includes the following HRSA investments:
- Expanding access to mental health care in schools: HRSA is awarding $25 million to 77 HRSA-funded health centers to create new and expand existing school-based health centers, which for the first-time includes support for these school health centers to provide mental health services in schools.
- Integrating mental health care into pediatric practices: HRSA is awarding more than $19 million to 25 states and territories to train pediatricians in delivering mental health care and provide real-time teleconsultation for pediatricians to get expert support from psychiatrists and other mental health providers to help them care for their patients’ mental health needs.
- Growing the mental health care workforce: HRSA is awarding $11 million to 23 organizations to train more behavioral health providers focused on serving children, adolescents, and young adults in underserved and rural areas. Funding will also help increase the number of clinical supervisors to ensure new trainees gain experience and mentorship in how best to support young people’s mental health.
For the full list of award recipients, visit the Youth Mental Health awards page.