SAMHSA funds state registries for mental health crisis intervention beds 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors are working to create a registry of crisis intervention beds for people with serious mental illness, SAMHSA announced last week. Twenty-three states have received $150,000 each from SAMHSA to establish or expand their registry programs as part of the initiative, intended to help emergency departments and clinicians find available beds when needed. “All too often individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis have long delays in obtaining appropriate services,” said Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D. “These delays result in serious consequences, including long waits at home, in emergency departments, or in jails for necessary services to become available. Reducing these delays is a top priority for SAMHSA.”