Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental- and Behavioral-Health Needs
This executive order (EO) aims to strengthen the federal response to mental- and behavioral-health needs worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. It establishes a cross-agency Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group to coordinate efforts across multiple federal departments and offices. The order prioritizes crisis-intervention services, ongoing treatment after crisis, expanded telehealth, and safe in-person activities to support vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic and its economic and social effects. It also directs agencies to encourage grant programs and contracts that fund community-based mental-health and suicide-prevention services, and to deliver a plan within 45 days detailing how to better coordinate services across public and private partners. The EO clarifies it does not create new rights and is subject to existing laws and available appropriations.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group, co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the White House Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, with broad agency participation (e.g., DoD, DoJ, USDA, DOL, HUD, Education, VA, SBA, ONDCP, OMB, and other federal entities). Members are full-time or permanent part-time federal employees.
- 2Policy goals to prevent suicides, reduce drug-related deaths, and address poor behavioral-health outcomes from the pandemic, including:
- 3- crisis-intervention services for immediate life-threatening situations
- 4- improved continuing care after crisis resolution
- 5- safe in-person mentorship, support groups, and attendance at communal facilities (schools, civic centers, houses of worship)
- 6- expanded telehealth and online mental-health and substance-use tools
- 7- mobilizing public/private resources to fight deteriorating mental health linked to unemployment and social isolation
- 8Within 45 days, the Working Group must submit a plan to the President outlining improved service coordination among public/private stakeholders and agencies to ensure effective treatment and recovery services.
- 9Grant funding approach to support in-person treatment and recovery activities, including:
- 10- encouraging grantees to adopt policies that improve mental health and reduce suicide risk (e.g., safe in-person and telehealth support groups, safe face-to-face therapy, safe communal participation)
- 11- leveraging existing authorities to fund community organizations and local entities for outreach, education, and case management
- 12General provisions: the order does not alter statutory authority or budgetary processes, and implementation must comply with law and available appropriations; it does not create enforceable rights.