SAMHSA Awards Up to $1.1 Million in Funding to Promote Follow-up Services for Those Most at Risk of Suicide

Newswise — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding up to $1.1 million in funding for Cooperative Agreements for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center Follow-Up program. The purpose of this program is to promote systematic follow up assistance to suicidal persons who call or are otherwise seeking help from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. SAMHSA’s effort is a key part of its strategic initiative to help promote behavioral health care, including reducing mental illnesses, substance abuse and related problems such as suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK coordinates the network of 146 crisis centers across the United States providing suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to individuals seeking help at any time, day or night.  SAMHSA funds the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) through a cooperative agreement awarded to Link2Health Solutions, Inc. for networking, certifying and training suicide prevention hotlines. This program provides critical, life saving services and studies have shown that follow-up calls to certain individuals in crisis could help increase it effectiveness – especially with regard to improving the longer term survival of those most at risk. Under this program, grantees will provide telephonic follow-up to Lifeline callers who have had current or recent suicidal thoughts including callers who receive emergency interventions.  Grantees will also provide referrals and linkages to the person in crisis with an appropriate mental health care system and confirm that the contact has been made between the person and the mental health system. SAMHSA is projected to provide up to $1.1 million in funding to this cooperative agreement follow-up program over the next three years ($360,000 annually). Each of the six selected crisis centers may receive up to $60,000 per year for up to the next three years.  Actual award amounts may vary, depending on the availability of funds and the performance of the grantees.  

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.