Stress and isolation occurring during the pandemic deepened overall concerns about the public’s mental health. A report from the Government Accountability Office in December 2021 noted higher rates of anxiety and depression in adults. The report also noted that children, adolescents, health care workers, and certain racial or ethnic populations could be at a higher risk of behavioral health issues.
To address these concerns, $2.3 billion in Community Mental Health Services Block Grants have been provided by the Department of Health and Human Services to states and Tribal communities to:
- Train behavioral health professionals working with school-age children.
- Build cultural and language capabilities to retain clients from diverse backgrounds.
- Expand the availability of beds for people with serious mental illness.
The American Rescue Plan Act provided an additional $420 million to community behavioral health centers for 24/7 crisis intervention for children and adolescents and family services.
To see all the data for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grants, visit our Pandemic Response Funding dashboard and enter 93.958 into the Assistance Listing filter.