Funding For opportunities that you should know about
For many of us in the mental health industry, it is no surprise that there is a lack of resources for individuals seeking services or support for their mental health and wellness. From the rising cost of prescriptions, inpatient hospital stays, or outpatient mental health treatment programs, families often struggle to decide whether to manage their household needs or invest in treatment.
I could go on and on about how many times I have witnessed people get turned away, become confused, or watch their hopes get crushed when a need they had could not be met. According to Mental Health America, 1 in 4 individuals could not access mental health treatment due to cost.
COVID-19 affected us all around the world, and those who lived through it will always remember those daunting days when the number of cases grew rapidly and the world shifted, forcing people to rethink life. One thing the pandemic did do was bring greater awareness to mental health. For those who did not believe in therapy, psychiatrists, or other wellness support professionals, many quickly came to understand the importance of wellness.
From local jurisdictions to the federal government, there had to be a closer look at how funding was being spent on mental health services. On July 6, 2026, SAMHSA announced $281 million in funding for 15 programs to help close the gap in mental health, substance use, and recovery services. This is extraordinary news, especially as some programs remain uncertain about their long-term future due to severe budget cuts last year.
According to SAMHSA’s website, these are the programs that are granted this funding:
$55.7 million for Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) grants that support the development of sustainable infrastructures for school-based mental health programs and services.
$40.6 million for National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative - Community Treatment and Service Centers-III grants that create and operate Community Treatment and Service Centers to increase access to and deliver effective trauma treatment and services for children and youth who have been impacted by traumatic events.
$34.7 million for First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act grants that train first responders and communities in administering and distributing FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medications.
$22 million for Mental Health Awareness Training grants that facilitate the implementation of mental health awareness and literacy training.
$13.7 million for Promoting Integration of Primary Behavioral Healthcare - States grants that promote full integration and collaboration in clinical practices between physical and behavioral health care.
$11 million for Preventing Drug Overdoses: Community Prevention and Response grants that support the development and implementation of a community-wide prevention program to reduce drug overdose deaths by expanding access to FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medications.
$10.5 million for Treatment, Recovery and Workforce Support grants that support individuals in substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring disorder (COD) treatment and recovery to live independently and participate in the workforce.
$8.8 million for Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grants that support a comprehensive public health and evidence-based approach that enhances behavioral health services for all college students, prevents and reduces suicide and mental and substance use disorders, promotes help-seeking behavior and reduces stigma, and improves the identification and treatment of at-risk college students so they can successfully complete their studies.
$6 million for Emergency Department Alternatives to Opioids programs that establish and implement practices which will help organizations develop alternatives to pharmacological opioid interventions for pain, reduce the potential harmful consequences of opioid use for pain care in hospitals and emergency departments, thereby promoting safer pain treatment and reducing the risk of future opioid misuse and possible opioid overdose.
$4.2 million for Assertive Community Treatment grants that establish or expand ACT programs for transition-aged youth (age 18-25), adults, and older adults with a serious mental illness (SMI) including individuals with SMI who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness.
$1.8 million for Statewide Family Network grants that enhance the capacity of statewide, mental health family-controlled organizations to support, train, and mentor family members/primary caregivers.
$1.5 million for Recovery Community Services grants that strengthen recovery communities by expanding access to recovery support services, including peer recovery support services, for individuals living with SUD and COD, including those in recovery.
$1.5 million for Recovery Community Services Program - Statewide Network grants that strengthen recovery organizations, their statewide network of recovery partners, and the specialty and primary health care systems in the delivery of Recovery Support Services.
$1 million for the Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information Related to Behavioral Health that will develop and disseminate training, technical assistance, and educational resources for health care practitioners, families, individuals, states, and communities on federal privacy statutes and regulations as they relate to behavioral health data.
Check out these grant opportunities to see whether your organization or program qualifies. Each link includes the application deadline, eligibility requirements, and instructions for how to apply.