MATSUI AND MOLINARO LEAD EFFORT TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING

The lawmakers pushed the committee to fund the program at least at $27.963 million, which represents flat funding from FY2024 and is the level adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT), also known as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), is a critical program that provides training for individuals on the front lines of responding to mental health crises, such as adults who work with youth; emergency service personnel, including law enforcement and fire departments; veterans; and armed service members and their families," wrote the lawmakers.

MHFA is an evidenced-based program that has operated in the United States since 2008 and helps the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use disorder challenges. In 2016, the bipartisan Mental Health First Aid Act, co-led by Congresswoman Matsui, was passed as a provision of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act. Since its passage, the program has trained more than three million Mental Health First Aiders from all 50 states and U.S. territories.

"MHFA training not only provides first responders with the skills needed to deescalate a crisis situation, but also helps them identify colleagues in uniform who may themselves be in crisis," the lawmakers wrote to Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro.

"We are grateful for your continued work on these issues, and urge you to adopt at least level funding for Mental Health First Aid in the final FY 2025 LHHS Appropriations Bill, as proposed by the Senate," continued the lawmakers.

A longtime champion for mental health awareness and training, Congresswoman Matsui introduced the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act this past May. This legislation would provide a permanent authorization of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) model.

A copy of the letter can be found below and HERE.

Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro:

As you engage with the Senate to develop the final fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations bill, we urge you to restore funding for the Mental Health Awareness and Training program. We ask that you agree to fund the program at least at $27.963 million, which represents flat funding from FY 2024 and is the level adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT), also known as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), is a critical program that provides training for individuals on the front lines of responding to mental health crises, such as adults who work with youth; emergency service personnel, including law enforcement and fire departments; veterans; and armed service members and their families. MHFA is an evidenced-based program that has operated in the United States since 2008 and helps the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use disorder challenges. In 2016, the bipartisan Mental Health First Aid Act was passed as a provision of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act. Since its passage, the program has trained more than three million Mental Health First Aiders from all 50 states and U.S. territories, with the highest count of First Aiders in Florida and Texas.

MHFA plays a vital role in supporting individuals with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) by training first responders to be better prepared to interact with and respond to people living with SMI. Specifically, Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety is a course designed for police officers, first responders, corrections officers, and other public safety professionals training them to deescalate and respond to situations involving those in a mental health crisis, as described by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) have all endorsed Mental Health First Aid as an evidence-based practice to improve interactions involving people with mental illnesses. MHFA training not only provides first responders with the skills needed to deescalate a crisis situation, but also helps them identify colleagues in uniform who may themselves be in crisis.

Mental health and substance use challenges impact the lives of millions of Americans and their families. We are grateful for your continued work on these issues, and urge you to adopt at least level funding for Mental Health First Aid in the final FY 2025 LHHS Appropriations Bill, as proposed by the Senate. Thank you for your efforts and consideration of our request.

# # #