Disaster Distress Helpline (Short Title: DDH)

The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) cooperative agreement, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Department of Health and Human Services, seeks to manage, enhance, and strengthen crisis counseling and support services for individuals experiencing psychological distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. The DDH operates as a 24/7, toll-free, multilingual crisis helpline providing confidential emotional support via phone and text to disaster survivors, their families, first responders, and affected communities across the United States and its territories. Eligible applicants include domestic non-profit and public organizations, states, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, and health facilities. Award decisions will be based on merit review of proposed projects, program analysis, and concurrence by the CMHS National Advisory Council. The application deadline is June 15, 2026, with the funding opportunity posted as of March 11, 2026.

Specific award values and budget ranges are to be determined as part of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The DDH is designed to provide year-round crisis counseling services with continuous national coverage, supporting SAMHSA's mission to mitigate the behavioral health impacts of disasters across all U.S. territories. Grant recipients must maintain records for a minimum of three years, with extended retention requirements if final audits remain incomplete or findings unresolved. The program emphasizes knowledge development, training and technical assistance, targeted capacity response, and systems change initiatives to advance mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery services.