Indiana Designates Funds to Improve Mental Health Programs & Services for Hoosiers
New funding is on the way across the Hoosier State to help improve mental health resources.
FSSA Offering Help
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction will be providing new funding to aid in supporting existing projects and in building new ones across the state.
State & Federal Funds
The goal is to improve mental health services for Indiana residents. The funds have been allocated as part of the Indiana General Assembly in House Enrolled Act 1001, as well as federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and other sources.
How It Will Help
According to a press release from Indiana FSSA, the funds will be well utilized across the state.
DMHA is working with partners in the private sector, the health care system and community and philanthropic organizations to provide grassroots support and funding alongside DMHA’s statewide mental health programming, through grant funding for community programs, the launch of Indiana 988, and a partnership to integrate mental health care into pediatric care across the state.
Pediatric Mental Health Matters Too
As part of an $8 million partnership with Riley Children's Health, mental health services will be able to be provided at pediatric primary care facilities all across Indiana.
Through this partnership, mental health services will be embedded within primary pediatric care settings around the state of Indiana, directly addressing the growing child mental health crisis.
On a Local Level
There are thirty-seven recipients in Indiana that will receive funding from the Community Catalyst Grants, providing $54.8 million in aid across the state. One of those recipients serves the Evansville metro of Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, and Gibson counties. Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare will receive nearly $5 million. That money will be used,
To implement creative and community-based programming and services that will address the significant behavioral health and substance use disorder needs and the complex needs of youth with a dual diagnosis of mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southwestern Indiana. This will be accomplished through the hiring of therapists and care coordinators.
Suicide Prevention
The new suicide emergency line is now active across the state of Indiana. Much like 911 is used to call emergency services, the new three-digit number will put residents into direct contact with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
In Indiana, Hoosiers experiencing mental health-related distress may call 988 to connect to a trained crisis specialist. In the coming years, that service will be expanded to include a response team and locations where people can go for help. The work to develop this complete system is well underway and will continue over the next seven to 10 years.
To learn how you can become a crisis counselor, visit SAMHSA.gov.