Shaheen, Hassan and Pappas Announce $4 Million Grant to Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester Secured in COVID-19 Relief
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester will receive $4 million in federal funding allocated under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law in December. Specifically, the funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will support the facility’s crucial mental health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. During negotiations for the emergency COVID-19 relief legislation that passed Congress and was signed into law in December, Shaheen successfully fought for the inclusion of language providing $4.25 billion in funding for substance use disorder treatment and mental health care.
“New Hampshire’s mental health centers, which were already overburdened and underfunded before this pandemic, are on the verge of a breaking point. Granite Staters across our state are coping with tremendous grief and trauma from losing loved ones, being laid off from work, struggling to put food on the table and other devastating outcomes created by this crisis. Too many are now facing severe mental health concerns, including substance use disorder, depression and suicide,” said Senator Shaheen. “That’s why this federal funding is so important. This award will bolster the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester’s ability to provide critical, lifesaving mental health services to Granite Staters in the city and central New Hampshire. Though I’m very pleased these federal dollars are being awarded, more is needed to bolster our response to this mental health crisis. Securing that assistance will continue to be one of my top priorities in ongoing COVID relief negotiations.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a grave toll on the mental well-being of Granite Staters across our state; it’s one of the most pervasive concerns that I have heard about from everyone from law enforcement professionals to health care providers to school administrators. That’s why I pushed for additional resources for behavioral health services in the last COVID-19 package, and I am very glad that much-needed dollars are on the way to the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester. I am deeply grateful for their work at this challenging time,” said Senator Hassan.
“As we continue to focus on the COVID-19 treatment and vaccinations, we cannot overlook the serious impact this pandemic is having on mental health and substance misuse due to the isolation, grief, and economic stress it has caused for so many,” said Congressman Pappas. “I am glad to see that Manchester will be receiving additional federal support for those in need of services.”
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