SAMHSA Announces $69 Million in Grants to Expand Mental Health Services and Suicide Prevention

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced $69.1 million in new funding opportunities aimed at addressing serious mental illness (SMI) and suicide prevention across the country.

These grants support three key programs:

1. Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI)

• Funding: $43 million

• Purpose: To provide comprehensive community mental health services to children, youth, and young adults (birth through age 21) with serious emotional disturbances (SED), as well as their families. Programs may include early identification and intervention for at-risk children.

• Eligibility: State governments, governmental units (e.g., counties, cities), and Indian tribes/tribal organizations.

• Award Range: $1 – $3 million per year, up to 4 years.

2. Implementing Zero Suicide in Health Systems

• Funding: $16.1 million

• Purpose: To provide healthcare systems with resources to implement the Zero Suicide framework, a multi-setting, evidence-based approach aimed at preventing suicide among adults in care.

• Eligibility: Community-based primary care and behavioral health settings, emergency departments, state mental health agencies, public health agencies, and tribal organizations.

• Award Range: $400,000 – $700,000 per year, up to 5 years.

3. Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program (AOT)

• Funding: $10 million

• Purpose: To facilitate implementation of AOT programs, which support adults with serious mental illness through court-assisted, community-based treatment.

• Eligibility: Counties, cities, mental health authorities, mental health courts, or other legally authorized entities.

• Award Range: $500,000 – $750,000 per year, up to 5 years.

---

Key Dates

• Applications Due: Monday, April 20, 2026

• NOFOs Posted: Friday, March 6, 2026

Applicants must comply with federal regulations regarding intergovernmental review (E.O. 12372) and submit a Public Health System Impact Statement to relevant state and local health agencies by the application deadline.

If your organization is interested in applying, Burrows Consulting, now a part of VMG Health, specializes in writing SAMHSA grant applications and can guide you through the process from start to finish. We love helping healthcare organizations secure the funding they need to expand mental health services and save lives.