Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental- and Behavioral-Health Needs

This executive order establishes a Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group to coordinate federal response to pandemic-exacerbated mental and behavioral health issues, including suicide prevention and substance abuse. It directs agencies to encourage grantees to adopt policies supporting safe in-person and telehealth mental health services, and requires a coordinated plan within 45 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 63977

Impact dates

Nov 17, 2020
Working Group report due to President on plan for improved service coordination

Key directives

Establish Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group co-chaired by HHS Secretary and Assistant to President for Domestic Policy
Working Group to examine mental health conditions of vulnerable populations including minorities, seniors, veterans, children, small business owners, disabled individuals, and substance use disorder patients
Working Group to examine PREVENTS and DOL's Mental Health Toolkit as models
Within 45 days: Working Group to submit report to President on improved service coordination plan
Agency heads to examine existing grant programs and encourage grantees to adopt policies improving mental health and reducing suicide risk
Agency heads to maximize use of existing authorities to award contracts/grants to community organizations for mental health and suicide prevention services

Timeline

Immediate

Establishment of Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group
Co-chairs designated (HHS Secretary and Assistant to President for Domestic Policy)

Near term (90d)

Working Group report due to President on service coordination plan

Long term

Potential grant program modifications to incentivize in-person and telehealth mental health services
Implementation of PREVENTS and other evidence-based programs

Risks & tensions

Order frames mental health deterioration partly as result of 'prolonged State and local COVID-19 shutdown orders,' injecting political framing into public health policy
Grant incentives for in-person services may conflict with evolving pandemic safety conditions; 'safe' is undefined
Implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' limits enforceability
Working Group composition is broad (10+ agencies) which may facilitate coordination or create bureaucratic delays
No enforcement mechanism for grantee policy adoption; language is encourage/consider rather than mandate