Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

·         suicidal persons who call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program;

·         suicidal persons discharged from emergency departments; and

·         those who are being otherwise helped by National Suicide Prevention Lifeline crisis centers across the country.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) coordinates a nationwide network of crisis centers across the United States providing suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to individuals seeking help at any time, day or night. SAMHSA funds the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) through a cooperative agreement awarded to Link2Health Solutions, Inc. for networking, certifying and training suicide prevention hotlines.

Although this program has provided immediate, life-saving intervention to many people, studies have shown that follow-up calls to individuals who have been in crisis could make a critical difference in helping with their longer-term survival. Under this program, grantees will provide telephone follow-up to Lifeline callers who have had current or recent suicidal thoughts, including callers who received emergency interventions. Grantees will also provide follow up with individuals discharged from local emergency departments who were suicidal. Grantees will also provide referrals and linkages for people who have been in crisis with an appropriate mental health care system and confirm that contact has been made between each person and the mental health system.

*SAMHSA is projected to provide an estimated six selected crisis centers with up to $60,000 per year for up to the next three years. Actual award amounts may vary and depend on the availability of funds.

WHO CAN APPLY: Eligible applicants are members of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center network. [See Section III-1 of this RFA for complete eligibility information]. Those who received funding through the FY 2012 RFA for Cooperative Agreements for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center Follow Up, or any crisis center previously funded through this program, are not eligible to apply.

HOW TO APPLY: Applications for SM-13-002 are available by calling SAMHSA at 1-877-SAMHSA7 [TDD: 1-800-487-4889] or by downloading the application at http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/apply.aspx .  Applicants are encouraged to apply online using http://www.grants.gov/ .

APPLICATION DUE DATE:  March 1, 2013.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

For information on grants management and budget issues contact:

Gwendolyn Simpson

Office of Financial Resources

Division of Grants Management

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 7-1091

Rockville, Maryland 20857

(240) 276-1408

gwendolyn.simpson@samhsa.hhs.gov

For information about program issues contact:

James Wright, MS, LCPC

Suicide Prevention Branch

Center for Mental Health Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 6-1002

Rockville, Maryland 20857

(240) 276-1854

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.