During Visit to Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, Shaheen Highlights Need for Continued Action to Combat Mental Health Crisis Exacerbated by COVID

Shaheen hears more from members of the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester on the Mobile Crisis Response Program’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic

(Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) visited the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester to discuss the needs and challenges facing the area as it addresses the mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the event, Shaheen received a briefing from the leadership of the center’s Mobile Crisis Response Program, which is one of only three programs operating in New Hampshire and has played a critical role delivering assistance. Londonderry School District staff also attended the meeting to highlight how schools work with the program to service students in crisis.

Shaheen recently announced $4 million heading to the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester through December’s emergency COVID relief legislation, which will help deliver urgently needed mental health services and treatment to area residents during the pandemic.

“I want to thank the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester for all of its work to provide critical mental health services to the Manchester community, and the Londonderry School District staff for its support of students. It’s clear that demand for mental health care in our state has surged over the last year, with the pandemic taking a serious toll on the mental health of many Granite Staters,” said Shaheen. “That’s why I’ve prioritized funding in COVID-19 relief legislation to address this crisis and support innovative responses like the Center’s Mobile Crisis Response Program that deliver swift assistance to those in need of help. Securing the federal assistance our state needs to respond to this crisis will be a top concern for me as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and as we get to work on government funding legislation for the next fiscal year.”

Shaheen is a leader in the Senate working to shine light on the mental health crisis during the pandemic. She recently hosted a virtual discussion with New Hampshire stakeholders and advocates to discuss the youth and teen mental health epidemic facing the state. To highlight the need to address teen mental health challenges, Shaheen invited Maureen O’Dea, President of the New Hampshire School Counselors Association and Director of School Counseling at Londonderry High School, as her virtual guest to President Biden’s joint address to Congress. Shaheen has fought to secure funding for mental health care and substance misuse services during the pandemic, including $4.25 billion in funding through December’s emergency COVID relief legislation and nearly $4 billion through the American Rescue Plan.