Tennessee will receive more than $53 million in additional funding from the federal government to address mental health and addiction treatment needs driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials announced Thursday.
The funding – which is part of a $3 billion allocation for mental health services included in the recently signed American Rescue Plan – will add more than $27 million to mental health services and nearly $26 million to treat substance use disorder services in the state over the next four years, according to a news release from the state.
It represents the latest influx of state and federal dollars to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services since the start of the pandemic. The department has already received $55 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds, and Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly increased the department’s budget for the next fiscal year by more than $44.1 million, according to the release.
“With the outpouring of support for mental health and substance use needs in our state, we have a priceless opportunity to bring about significant change and make a difference for Tennesseans who are struggling. The mental health and substance use impacts brought on by the stresses of the pandemic are with us, and these generous investments at both the state and federal levels are going to make sure we and our community behavioral health providers can continue to rise to meet the need,” Marie Williams, commissioner of the department, said in the release. “We are tremendously grateful to our amazing network of providers across the state who answer the call and respond with compassionate care to help people find new lives in recovery.”