Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental- and Behavioral-Health Needs
Federal Government Orders Increased Support for Mental Health Needs
What it does
Agencies must form a federal working group, produce a plan within 45 days, and use grants to expand in-person care, support groups, and telehealth.
Real-world impact
- Establishes a federal working group to coordinate mental-health pandemic response.
- Requires a plan within 45 days to improve crisis care and coordination.
- Directs agencies to use grants to expand in-person care, support groups, and telehealth.
Topics
Summary
This order sets a national call to action to address mental and behavioral health problems made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. It establishes a federal Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group to coordinate responses, asks that group to submit a plan to the President within 45 days, and directs agencies to encourage in-person treatment, expand telehealth, and use grants to support recovery services.
The order focuses on vulnerable people—such as seniors, veterans, children, minorities, people with disabilities, small business owners, those facing domestic violence, and people with substance use disorders—and aims to improve crisis care and long-term recovery.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”