HHS puts $43.7M toward mental health for those with HIV/AIDS

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The Department of Health and Human Services is establishing a number of grant programs, encompassing $43.7 million worth of funding, that are intended to strengthen mental health and substance use services for those with HIV and AIDS.

Created through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the funding is part of HHS's new Overdose Prevention Strategy, which calls for accessible, evidence-based, culturally appropriate substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services. Funding for the grant programs will be awarded in the fall.

The grants, which are being deployed to help underserved communities, are supported by the Minority AIDS Initiative and align with the Biden administration's stated goal of achieving health equity. 

The funding targets areas of the country with the greatest disparities in HIV-related health outcomes and aligns with the National HIV AIDS Strategy.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

There will be three grant programs in total.

• The first is the Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Racial Ethnic/ Minority Populations at High Risk for HIV/AIDS program. Its goal is to increase care for racial and ethnic minorities with substance use and mental health challenges who are at risk for or are living with HIV/AIDS, and receive HIV primary care and other services. This grant will fund up to $30.5 million over five years for up to 61 grantees.
• The Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Navigator Program for Racial Ethnic Minorities, meanwhile, will provide training and education around the risks of substance use and HIV/AIDS, as well as the integration of a range of services for individuals with HIV/AIDS. The program uses a navigation approach – working through community health workers, neighborhood navigators and peer support specialists – to expedite services for those populations. The grant will fund up to $4.5 million over five years for up to 18 grantees.
• The Minority AIDS Initiative – Service Integration program intends to reduce the concurrent epidemics of HIV, Hepatitis and mental health challenges through accessible, evidence-based treatment that is integrated with HIV primary care and prevention services. The grant will fund $8.7 million over four years for up to 18 grantees.

THE LARGER TREND

Mental health has been a policy focus for the administration. Around the same time the grant programs were announced, Biden signed into law the "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act," which authorizes programs to improve mental and behavioral health among healthcare providers.

The act, now law, will provide up to $135 million in federal funding for mental health education and awareness campaigns aimed at protecting the wellbeing of healthcare workers.

A December report from Medscape found that burnout and the stress of the pandemic – including factors such as personal risk, social distancing and financial uncertainty – appeared to diminish physicians' overall work-life happiness, with only 49% reporting they were happy in 2020, versus 69% pre-pandemic. More than one-third (34%) reported feeling unhappy last year, compared with 19% in 2019.

ON THE RECORD

"We remain committed to providing people at risk for, or living with HIV/AIDS, with the support and services they need to thrive – no matter who they are or where they live," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "This funding will ensure people who simultaneously face mental health and substance use challenges – and are at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS – will receive the support and treatment that they need."

"We must increase supports and services for those who are at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS and have mental health and substance use needs," said Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, HHS assistant secretary for mental health and substance use, and the leader of SAMHSA. "This means connecting them to easy-to-access, culturally appropriate prevention, treatment, and recovery services."
 

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com