SAMHSA Offering $6.5 Million for Suicide Prevention
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published notices Nov. 7 of two FY2008 grant programs that will aid suicide prevention efforts. One will give money to support those efforts on college campuses, which SAMHSA targeted because the American College Health Association's 2006 National College Health Assessment found 9 percent of college students had seriously considered suicide within the past year and 1.3 percent had attempted it. Combined, the two programs have $6.5 million to award.
The college campus program will grant about $1.5 million in as many as 15 grants for a three-year period. These grants will be awarded by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services; applicants must apply by Jan. 18, 2008 and can obtain applications (for No. SM-08-002) by calling 877-SAMHSA7 or downloading from www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2008/sm_08_002.aspx or www.grants.gov.
The second program is for up to $5 million in as many as 10 cooperative grants to schools, juvenile justice systems, foster care systems, substance abuse and mental health programs, and other child- and youth-supporting organizations. These grants will average up to $500,000 per year for up to three years. Applications are due by Jan. 11, 2008; call 877-SAMHSA7 or download from www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2008/sm_08_001.aspx or www.grants.gov.