A $2 million dollar grant has been announced for mental health support in Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to state officials, the grant comes from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The funding will be used for not only health care providers and first responders, but for those with serious mental illness or substance use disorders who have been impacted by the pandemic and unable to pay for behavioral health services.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan says, quote: “the COVID-19 pandemic has made those living with serious mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders even more vulnerable. This funding will be critical to ensuring those Minnesotans can continue to receive the care and support they need.” Unquote.
The state’s Department of Human Services, the DHS, will be issuing funds to seven Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics across the state, with these clinics expected to assess and provide help to about 6,000 Minnesotans.
DHS officials anticipate that 70% of the grant funding will be used for those with severe mental illness or substance use disorders. DHS will also be using the funding to improve telephone and video access services, in an effort to remove barriers to these services but also reducing exposure to COVID-19.
The effort to remove barriers includes removing resource barriers for underserved communities of color, including native communities. These certified community behavioral health clinics will be working with tribal nations and both urban and rural native health clinics to ensure access to culturally responsive services.
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