BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health on Monday announced $55 million in grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The funding, slated to begin distribution in November, will provide relief to behavioral health patients and service providers who have been impacted by the pandemic […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health on Friday announced the launch of a new resource to raise awareness about suicide for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The 2021 Suicide Prevention Month Toolkit: Stories of Hope focuses on raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide, spreading hope, building resiliency and encouraging well-informed action. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a collectively trying time […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan has declared May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Maryland. Lieutenant Governor Boyd K. Rutherford presented the proclamation during a meeting of the Commission to Study Mental and Behavioral Health in Maryland, which studies Marylanders’ access to mental health services and the link between mental health issues and substance use disorders. “One of our key […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health on Wednesday relaunched its CovidCONNECT website, offering more streamlined access to comprehensive resources to support Marylanders who have firsthand experience with COVID-19. Through CovidCONNECT, users are able to find guidance and support from peers who share similar experiences and access resources to promote physical, emotional, and mental health. “As Marylanders continue to get vaccinated […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health on Monday announced Operation Courage, a new support services program designed to address the growing and long-term mental health care needs of frontline workers and first responders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The program launched with a new website and an online assessment designed to encourage workers to get needed help. “We are grateful for […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health this week announced the launch of a new virtual form of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Maryland, which will be offered to firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police, in partnership with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System (MIEMSS). MHFA Maryland has trained over 40,000 individuals and professionals in identifying the signs and […]
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Lieutenant Governor Boyd K. Rutherford announced that Maryland would continue its tradition of observing International Overdose Awareness Day (IODAD) on Monday and National Recovery Month in 2020 this September. Maryland’s theme for both IODAD and Recovery Month 2020 is “Recovery: Pass It On, Keep It Going!” “International Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month provide us with opportunities to pause […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Health on Wednesday announced the launch of MD Mind Health, a new text-based mental health initiative to fight isolation and encourage mental wellness. The new program was developed by the MDH Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) in partnership with Maryland 211, the state’s crisis hotline. “Staying connected with family, friends and other support systems is more […]