Initiatives to increase access to mental-health resources and support were introduced at the recent HHS Mental Health Summit, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced earlier this month.
The two initiatives - an informational website of resources and support, and a grant program for community-based efforts, "will increase access to health resources and support for those working to address mental health challenges," HHS states in a May 5 news release.
Findsupport.gov is described as a "user-friendly website, designed for the general public" by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in a May 4 news release. Individuals can use the website to find available resources and support, information on treatment options and resources for setting up an appointment with a healthcare professional.
The website also provides answers to common questions such as how to ask for help or help others, how to search for a healthcare professional or support program, and treatment options based on a person's insurance status, including Medicaid, Medicare, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care, TRICARE, private insurance, and no insurance.
The $1 million Children and Youth Resilience Challenge supports "innovative community-led solutions to promote resilience in children and adolescents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters," according to a May 4 news release on the grant program. Submitted projects should promote positive strategies and solutions to help children and youth thrive, protective factors that are "culturally and linguistically responsive," and that support resilience and advance mental health and well-being in the community.
The Resilience Challenge, developed by the HHS's Behavioral Health Coordinating Council Subcommittee on Children and Youth, is part of the Biden Administration's Unity Agenda and Mental Health Strategy and also advances HHS's Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration, the agency reports.
HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra said in the news release that the agency will continue to address the country's mental health crisis by improving the understanding its challenges, decreasing its stigma and increasing access to support inside and outside the healthcare system.
“Thanks to President Biden, we are finally and seriously saying to anyone struggling with their mental health: support is here," Becerra said in the news release. "I am proud that we are changing the way mental health is viewed in this country because mental health is health, period.”
