OLYMPIA —The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), on September 8, announced on 988 Day that it has awarded $383.4 million in grants to strengthen behavioral health treatment, prevention, and crisis response nationwide. Of that total, $252 million will support the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, suicide prevention, and mobile crisis services.
Washington state recipients were awarded $8,952,778, including nearly $6 million for the Washington State Department of Health to improve local 988 capacity and additional grants for tribal suicide prevention, rural emergency medical services, opioid technical assistance, and underage drinking prevention.
“We are investing more than $380 million to strengthen America’s behavioral health system and help people get effective care when they need it,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “That includes $252 million to strengthen 988, prevent suicide, and improve crisis response in communities across the country. President Trump and I are committed to saving lives and helping more Americans find a path to recovery.”
“988 has become a critical front door to behavioral health care for millions of Americans, but answering the call is only the beginning,” said SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher D. Carroll. “These investments will strengthen access to treatment and recovery services while ensuring that people in crisis can get the immediate help they need.”
Washington awards announced today
988, suicide prevention, and crisis services
- Washington State Department of Health — $5,967,646
988 State and Territory Local Capacity Building/Cooperative Agreements. The funding will improve Washington’s response to 988 contacts originating in the state—including calls, chats, and texts—and strengthen services for populations at high risk of suicide and overdose. - Tribal Behavioral Health: Suicide Prevention grants will support efforts to prevent suicide attempts and deaths among American Indian and Alaska Native youth and young adults through age 24:
- Lummi Indian Business Council, Bellingham — $350,000
- Nooksack Indian Tribe, Deming — $685,132
- Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle — $350,000
Substance use treatment and prevention
- Clark County — $300,000
Rural Emergency Medical Services Training, to improve emergency medical services for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis in rural areas. - Washington State University — $650,000
Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Centers, to develop and share training that addresses opioid and stimulant use and overdose in rural communities. - Washington State University — $650,000
Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) grants, to help prevent and reduce underage alcohol use among youth and young adults ages 12–20.
Nationally, the 988, suicide prevention, and crisis awards total $252 million. Substance use treatment and prevention awards total $81.4 million. Washington’s share is concentrated in local 988 capacity, tribal youth suicide prevention, rural EMS training, and university-based prevention and technical assistance.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. To find treatment, visit FindTreatment.gov.
Author: Mario Lotmore
