42 U.S.C. § 290bb–39 — Peer-supported mental health services

(a) Grants authorized The Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, must award grants to eligible entities to develop, expand, and improve access to mental health peer-delivered services. (b) Use of funds Grants must go toward developing, expanding, and improving national, statewide, or community-focused programs — including virtual peer-support services and related technology — by: (1) recruiting, training, and retaining peer-support providers; (2) building connections between mental health treatment programs, community organizations, and peer-support networks (including virtual ones), and with other mental health support services; (3) reducing stigma tied to mental health disorders; (4) expanding and improving virtual peer mental health support, including adopting technologies and buying equipment and software needed to run virtual peer-support services efficiently; and (5) researching mental illness and how peer support affects resilience, including identifying (A) the signs of mental illness, (B) resources available to people with mental illness and their families, and (C) resources available to help support people living with mental illness. (c) Special consideration The Secretary must give special consideration to the unique needs of rural areas. (d) Definition "Eligible entity" means: (1) a consumer-run nonprofit organization that (A) is mainly governed by people living with a mental health condition, and (B) mobilizes resources within and outside the mental health community — which may include through peer-support networks — to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term wellness for people living with a mental health condition, including a co-occurring substance use disorder; or (2) an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, Urban Indian organization, or consortium of Tribes or Tribal organizations. (e) Authorization of appropriations $13,000,000 per year is authorized for fiscal years 2023 through 2027.