News Release

HHS Awards $600,000 in Emergency Mental Health Grants to Four States Devastated by Hurricane Katrina

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced $600,000 in emergency grants to Louisiana, Alabama, Texas and Mississippi to insure that mental health assessment and crisis counseling are available in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

The grants are Emergency Response Grants from HHS� Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These immediate support grants are provided to state and local political jurisdictions when local resources are overwhelmed. States were asked to identify their highest priority need in mental health and substance abuse for immediate support.

�It is just as important to deal with the emotional and psychological wounds of this crisis as it is to care for the physical wounds,� Secretary Leavitt said. �These emergency funds will help ensure that the victims of Hurricane Katrina -- and those who have come to their aid -- will receive the counseling they need to cope with the aftermath of this disaster.�

Louisiana received a $200,000 grant. Louisiana requested the funds to provide counseling to disaster workers and first responders, including fire fighters, police, shelter staff, rescue and recovery workers and others. The state will create a team of behavioral health specialists who will evaluate and assess patients, provide medication management, brief interventions, referrals to longer term treatment, education and group interventions and also staff a 24 hour call in number. SAMHSA processed the award to Louisiana in 24 hours and is prepared to provide rapid turn-around to the other three states when applications are received.

Alabama received a $100,000 grant. The state plans to create pool of funding to support clinical assessments and immediate direct services such as psychiatric services, nursing services, medications, brief interventions, crisis case management and short-term residential support.

Texas received $150,000. The state identified provision of methadone medications and related activities as its highest priority need for support. The state is using SAMHSA funds to support existing methadone providers to allow for services to evacuees in shelters.

Mississippi received $150,000. The state identified behavioral health expenses related to emergency support for populations in mental health treatment facilities in the southern parts of the state. These expenses include overtime staffing, technical support for an emergency operations center, transportation expenses for a relief team, and emergency food and supplies.

SAMHSA also has established a toll-free hotline for people in crisis in the aftermath of this disaster. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), callers will be connected to a network of local crisis counseling centers across the country. Callers to the hotline will receive counseling from trained staff who will listen to and assist callers in getting the mental health help they need. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.