The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is requesting a $612 million increase over 2023 funding for 2025.
The agency is seeking additional funding for opioid response, community mental healthcare and the 988 lifeline, according to a March 11 news release.
President Joe Biden proposed a $7.3 trillion budget March 11. The budget included several mental health initiatives, including those run through SAMHSA.
Here are the five biggest line items in SAMHSA's $8.1 billion proposed budget for 2025:
- $1.6 billion for state opioid response grants, a $20 million increase from 2023.
- $1 billion for a community mental health services block grant, including 10% set aside for programs for individuals with early serious mental illness, and 10% for prevention and early intervention for at-risk youth and adults with mental illness.
- $601 million, a $100 million increase from 2024, for administering and scaling the 988 lifeline.
- $450 million for community behavioral health clinics, including a request for authority to develop a process for accreditation of these clinics. The proposal is a $65 million increase from 2024.
- $413 million for state and local governments and nonprofit organizations to increase access to community mental health centers.