Secretary of Health and Human services Kathleen Sebelius announced the department’s 2014 budget today, with strong support for mental health and anti-gun violence services. Flanked by a dozen agency heads, including CDC, NIH, Indian Health, and Department of Aging, Sebelius discussed the need to balance fiscal responsibility with ensuring the nation’s health and scientific leadership.
Research into mental health issues and gun violence will get significant new funding. Work will continue on the human brain mapping initiative, announced earlier this month by President Obama. The ongoing effort to battle Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias gets $100 million in funding next year. Money is also set aside to train 5,000 additional professionals in behavioral health.
Here’s what Secretary Sebelius had to say on mental health funding
The entire budget is available on the HHS Website. Secretary Sebelius’ press conference video is also available.
