CHA News

President Issues Executive Order on Behavioral Health During the Pandemic

For behavioral health staff

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This week, President Trump issued an executive order to support enhanced crisis intervention and other behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The executive order creates a cabinet-level Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group to develop a federal plan to better coordinate services to prevent suicide and mental and behavioral health conditions in vulnerable populations during the pandemic.

The order also calls for federal agencies to examine their existing grant programs for mental health and related services. It encourages policies such as in-person mentorship programs and support groups, increased availability of telehealth and online behavioral health tools, and crisis intervention services to treat those in immediate life-threatening situations.