Some mental health services will soon be getting a boost.
What You Need To Know
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $100 million in funding for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
- The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay says more funding is needed locally to help support the increased number of calls to 988
- If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $100 million in funding for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or SAMHSA.
The money will go toward improving mental health services across the nation. That includes 988 services such as emergency preparedness and crisis response.
Some $50 million of that money is earmarked to help expand and enhance 988 services.
988 is the shorter suicide and crisis lifeline number launched in July to make it easier for people to call for help.
While funds have not yet been allocated, Ken Gibson, Senior Director of Marketing and Public Relations with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, said more funding is needed locally to help support the increased number of calls.
"The big thing right now is just being able to have enough people here to be able to answer the triple, quadruple number of calls that have been coming in to 988. That’s the current plan, that’s what we’re working towards right now," said Gibson
Additional funding focuses on crisis response, which recommends state behavioral systems address mental health support in communities after traumatic events.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.