# Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023

This bill creates a federal grant program to help communities build mental health support systems from the ground up. Instead of just treating people after they develop mental health problems, the program focuses on preventing issues before they start and building community-wide emotional strength and resilience.

The federal government would provide two types of grants. First, planning grants of up to $250,000 would help communities organize networks of local organizations—schools, nonprofits, churches, businesses, and other groups—to assess their mental health needs and develop strategies to address them. Second, larger program grants of up to $500,000 per year (for up to four years) would fund actual community mental wellness programs. These programs would focus on building social connections, improving local conditions, teaching people stress-management skills, and creating support networks. The bill specifically sets aside 20 percent of funding for rural areas, which often struggle to access mental health resources.

The programs would take what's called a "public health approach," meaning they'd work with entire communities rather than just treating individuals one at a time in clinical settings. This could include community activities, support groups, trauma-informed training, and efforts to address the social and environmental factors that affect mental health—like poverty, isolation, or environmental hazards. The bill authorizes $36 million over five years (2024-2028) for these grants and requires the government to report back to Congress on what works.

Essentially, this bill would help communities create their own mental wellness infrastructure by bringing together diverse local organizations to identify problems and implement solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023

Tonko, Paul

Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award competitive grants for planning and implementing community mental wellness and resilience programs through networks of schools, businesses, health and human services providers, and other community groups. These programs take a public health approach to build the capacity of the community to detect, prevent, and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychosocial conditions.