Mental Health Awareness Training Grants

The Mental Health Awareness Training Grants program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This federal funding opportunity is designed to expand national capacity for mental health awareness, literacy, and crisis response training. Authorized under the Public Health Service Act, the program aligns with federal priorities to improve access to mental health services, strengthen crisis intervention systems, and promote evidence based practices across communities. The initiative reflects a broader effort to equip non clinical community members with the knowledge and tools needed to respond effectively to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. The primary purpose of the program is to support the development and implementation of training programs that increase recognition of mental health conditions and improve responses to crisis situations. Funded projects are expected to train key populations such as school personnel, emergency responders, law enforcement, veterans, caregivers, and community leaders. Training content must include recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness, de escalation techniques, suicide prevention, and strategies for connecting individuals to appropriate care and community resources. Applicants must also establish partnerships with mental health providers to ensure effective referral pathways. Funding supports a range of activities focused on training delivery, outreach, and partnership development. Required activities include creating a structured training plan, identifying and distributing community resources, conducting outreach and engagement campaigns, and maintaining formal collaborations with licensed mental health providers. Funds are primarily intended for training and capacity building and cannot be used for certain restricted activities such as food expenses or initiatives that conflict with federal policy priorities. Indirect costs are capped, and all expenditures must align with federal regulations and SAMHSA strategic priorities. Eligibility is limited to governmental and nonprofit entities, including states, local governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofit private organizations such as faith based entities. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, provide documentation of nonprofit status if applicable, and include a formal letter of commitment from at least one licensed mental health provider partner. Organizations previously funded under a specific earlier funding announcement with a defined start date are not eligible. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, making the program more accessible to eligible applicants. The application process requires submission through federal systems including SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. Applicants must prepare a detailed project narrative, budget narrative, and multiple required attachments such as a project timeline, data collection plans, and organizational documentation. The project narrative is limited to ten pages and must address evaluation criteria including need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection strategy. Applications undergo an initial eligibility review followed by a merit based peer review and final agency decision making based on alignment with priorities and funding availability. The application deadline is July 27, 2026, with awards expected to be announced by September 1, 2026, and projects beginning on September 30, 2026. The project period may extend up to three years, with annual continuation dependent on performance and funding availability. Awardees must participate in ongoing reporting, including quarterly data submission and annual progress reports. Technical assistance and training will be provided post award to support implementation and compliance. For additional information, applicants may contact program staff at SAMHSA through designated email and phone contacts for programmatic, budgetary, and review related questions.

Align proposal with SAMHSA strategic priorities; clearly define measurable objectives; demonstrate strong partnerships with mental health providers