HARTFORD, Conn — Governor Ned Lamont announced Thursday that the state has been awarded a five-year $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enhance a range of suicide prevention activities coordinated among several state agencies.
The grant, awarded to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), will run through August 31, 2025, and will be a joint effort between DPH, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), and UConn Health.
The grant will focus on several populations in Connecticut that are disproportionately impacted by suicide or attempted suicide, including middle-aged adults, in particular men, with serious mental illness or substance use disorder; and adolescents and young adults.
“This grant will enable us to enhance our suicide prevention efforts and link those impacted to appropriate treatment,” Governor Lamont said. “Mental health issues continue to be a growing concern across our country, impacting people of all backgrounds, and we have strong partnerships in Connecticut among many organizations to connect people to adequate support. I strongly encourage anyone in need of help to call 2-1-1 any time and speak to trained staff for assistance.”
“Many of our fellow Americans are struggling with depression as a result of job loss, social isolation, and a disruption in normalcy that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused,” the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation – including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Representatives John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes, and Jahana Hayes – said in a joint statement. “This grant will help those who are in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress receive appropriate services. As a delegation, we will continue to fight to ensure Connecticut agencies are provided with the financial assistance to help those in need throughout this pandemic.”
You can read more about the plans here.