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Mental Health Awareness and Training Grant (MHAT)

The MHAT grant program prepares and trains individuals to appropriately and safely respond to persons with mental health challenges and or disorders, particularly those with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or serious emotional disturbances (SED). MHAT-awarded grantees are with varied community non-profit agencies, school districts, colleges/universities, hospital systems, among others.

To meet the unique needs of their communities, MHAT grantees utilize various evidence-based/ evidence-informed curriculums of their choice to train the mental health and related workforce, school/higher education systems, first responders, law enforcement, diverse human service organizations, and many others who interface with youth and adults at risk for mental health and/or substance use challenges.

As a result of mental health awareness training, individuals receive the knowledge, skills, confidence, and resources to engage with someone experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges. Individuals trained might use these skills and resources to help others access needed mental health care from within their own families, their places of employment, their communities, or their places of worship.

Training that is provided through the SAMHSA MHAT grant is provided at no cost. Training is also offered to those who are interested in becoming certified evidence-based/evidence-informed curriculum instructors.

MHAT History

MHAT was born from Project AWARE which is a SAMHSA funded school mental health infrastructure building grant. Project AWARE was SAMHSA’s thoughtful response to both the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative and the Presidential Now is the Time plan. SAMHSA identified the expanded mental health awareness training needs across communities to meet the needs of youth and adults at risk for mental health and/or substance use challenges.

MHAT Award History

MHAT Successes 2018-2021

  • 46,651 individuals in the mental health and related workforce have been trained in mental health related practices and activities
  • 65,761 total individuals have been trained in prevention or mental health promotion
  • 76,361 individuals have been referred to mental health or related services
  • 75.9% of individuals have demonstrated improvement in knowledge/attitudes/beliefs related to prevention and/or mental health promotion (2022)

To Receive Mental Health Awareness Training

If you are interested in receiving mental health awareness training, please refer to Grant Awards by State to locate a SAMHSA MHAT grantee in your area.

SAMHSA Point of Contact: shane.grant@samhsa.hhs.gov

Last Updated: 12/15/2022