Project Grant H79SM090030

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) was awarded a $1,470,000 Project Grant under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance (CFDA 93.243) program by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 5-year "Georgia Plant Hope Project" aims to empower Georgia youth ages 10-24 to build hope, reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide prevention, and increase access to suicide prevention resources and evidence-based practices. The project will target youth in 4 counties and on the Clark Atlanta University campus, reaching an expected 10,000 youth by the end of the grant period. Key strategies include training, outreach, and implementation of evidence-based practices such as gatekeeper training, suicide risk assessment, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The project will also enhance integration of suicide prevention into treatment and crisis services through increased collaboration between hospitals, crisis centers, and community providers.