The Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023 is a federal program that funds community-based mental health initiatives across the country. Rather than just treating people after mental health problems develop, this bill takes a preventive approach by strengthening entire communities' ability to support mental wellness before crises happen.

The bill provides two types of grants. First, it gives up to $250,000 to organizations to help them plan and organize local mental health networks. Second, it awards up to $500,000 per year for up to four years to established networks that actually run mental wellness programs in their communities. At least 20 percent of the funding must go to rural areas. These networks must include representatives from at least five different types of organizations—such as schools, nonprofits, faith groups, businesses, healthcare providers, and community members with lived experience of mental health challenges.

Programs funded by this bill focus on identifying what helps communities stay mentally healthy (like strong social connections and economic opportunity) and what creates problems (like poverty, trauma, or lack of access to services). They then work to strengthen the positive factors and address the negative ones through community activities, education, and culturally appropriate programs. The bill sets aside $36 million over five years (2024-2028) to fund these efforts and requires the government to report back to Congress by the end of 2028 on what worked best.

Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023

Markey, Edward J.

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.