SAMHSA Update: March 09

“The Current Complement of Mental Health Professionals is Woefully Inadequate” An Achievable Vision: Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health (June 2007)

Campus Mental and Behavioral Health Services: Education GRO staff are seeking the inclusion of the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act as part of the SAMHSA reauthorization in the 111th Congress. The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act will soon be introduced in the Senate by Senators Durbin and Collins and by Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act: This legislation would provide critically needed mental and behavioral health services to students on campus. Through a competitive grant process, administered by SAMHSA, the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act would enable institutions of higher education to use funds for providing mental and behavioral health services to students (prevention, screening, early intervention, assessment, treatment, management and educational services), employ appropriately trained staff; and expand training opportunities through internship, post-doctorate, and residency programs. In addition to supporting mental and behavioral health services for students, the bill outlines a National Public Education Campaign designed to focus on mental and behavioral health on college campuses, as well as establishes an Interagency Working on College Mental Health.

In tandem with that effort, Education GRO will seek the continuation of the Campus Suicide Prevention Program and advocate for an increase in its Authorization of Appropriations (increase the funding ceiling to $10 million). Authorized first as part of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act and housed at SAMHSA, the Campus Suicide Prevention program is a small but effective competitive grant program that makes funds available to institutions of higher education to enhance education and outreach services to students with mental and behavioral health problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts. Senator Jack Reed is the champion of this program.

Education GRO staff will work in the upcoming months to secure additional House and Senate co-sponsors of this legislation. Again, Education GRO’s goal is to have these programs included as part of SAMHSA during the reauthorization of that Agency, which is slated for review and renewal during the 111th Congress.

Applications for SAMHSA Campus Suicide Prevention grants were due on November 25, 2008. It is anticipated that SAMHSA will make approximately 21 grants of up to $100,000 per year for three years. Institutions of Higher Education are eligible to apply and institutions may carry out the activities of this grant through college counseling centers, college and university psychological services centers, mental health centers, psychological training clinics, or institutions of higher education-supported, evidence-based mental health and substance abuse programs. These grants will be announced this summer. For complete information about the applications, please visit www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2009/sm_09_001.aspx.