Disaster Distress Helpline

The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) grant opportunity, offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is forecasted under opportunity number SM-26-011. This program is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ broader mission to address behavioral health impacts, especially during and after emergencies. The DDH provides vital mental health support during times of natural or human-caused disasters by ensuring 24/7, confidential, toll-free access to crisis counseling services for individuals across the United States and its territories. The helpline represents a core component of national crisis response infrastructure. The purpose of this forecasted grant is to fund a single awardee to manage, enhance, and strengthen the Disaster Distress Helpline so that it can maintain and potentially expand its capacity to serve communities affected by disasters. The awardee will be responsible for ensuring continuous access to crisis support services, as well as for implementing improvements that align with SAMHSA's evolving priorities in disaster behavioral health response. This grant opportunity is intended to support domestic public and private nonprofit entities, encompassing a wide range of potential applicants such as state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. For-profit organizations and individuals are not eligible. There are no stated cost sharing or matching requirements for this opportunity, which allows applicants to propose projects without the need to secure additional financial commitments. While the estimated total program funding is $1,200,000, specific details regarding the award ceiling and floor, as well as the award date and project start date, are not yet disclosed. The estimated posting date for the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is March 16, 2026. Given that the opportunity is labeled as “forecasted,” applicants should monitor updates to prepare for application release and submission timelines. As of now, no application deadlines or submission windows are available. There is also no information on the required submission components or the criteria by which applications will be evaluated. Interested applicants are encouraged to maintain contact with the grant officer, Maryann Robinson, via email (maryann.robinson@samhsa.hhs.gov) or by phone at (240) 276-1883, to stay informed about the posting and availability of the full application materials. This grant is part of SAMHSA’s broader strategic effort to address mental health and substance use concerns during times of crisis, and the continuation of the Disaster Distress Helpline ensures critical behavioral health support is readily accessible to those affected by future disasters. As it is forecasted, it is expected that similar opportunities may recur in the future depending on budget allocations and federal priorities in emergency mental health response.