State invests $55M in mental health services, launches Indiana 988

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is providing nearly $55 million in grant funding to improve mental health services in Indiana. The FSSA says the funding, which comes from its Division of Mental Health and Addiction, is intended to build out the care continuum and improve mental health and substance use disorder outcomes for local organizations.

The largest investment is in Community Catalyst Grants, which is being provided to 37 recipients. The total investment includes $22.3 million of local and grantee match funding, as well as $32.5 million in federal funds.

“One serious, lingering result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been widely-recognized by experts all over the country is a worsening of our mental health crisis,” said Dr. Dan Rusyniak, FSSA secretary. “This major infusion of funds, spread throughout Indiana, will provide more access to mental health care, expand the mental health workforce, and invest in our state’s mental health infrastructure.”

The grant recipients include Dove House in Marion and Dubois counties, La Porte Community Resource Intervention’s substance use, instability and suicidal support outreach program, and the Marion County Reentry Coalition, among others. You can connect to a full list of grant recipients by clicking here.

The organization is also launching Indiana 988. On Saturday, 988 will go live in Indiana, and around the country, as a new national three-digit dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The FSSA says Hoosiers with mental health-related issues are encouraged to call 988 to speak with a professional crisis specialist.

In addition, the FSSA says Indiana is establishing an $8 million partnership with Riley Children’s Health to provide mental health services at pediatric primary care offices.