Best Mental Health Grants in Mississippi

Mississippi mental health providers certified by the Department of Mental Health can seek funding to develop and maintain statewide peer support specialist training and services. Grants from Mississippi Department of Mental Health help Mississippi behavioral health organizations offset operational costs while building standardized CPSS training, outreach, and ongoing peer-delivered recovery supports.

Eligible Mississippi organizations developing or maintaining family peer support programs can apply for Mississippi Department of Mental Health’s Behavioral Health – Family (Parent/Caregiver) Peer Support Development and Program Maintenance Grant; awards US $41,822 for program implementation. This funding can support parent and caregiver peer specialists serving children with emotional, behavioral, or substance use challenges.

Focused on youth behavioral health, this grant invites Mississippi Department of Mental Health-certified providers in Mississippi to support transitional outreach services for youth and young adults with serious emotional disturbance or serious mental illness. Funding of US $62,655 helps defray operational costs for programs building independent living, education, employment, and community engagement skills.

Mississippi organizations supporting children and youth with serious emotional disturbance can seek funding to enhance family-focused behavioral health services. With a mission to strengthen mental health systems, Mississippi Department of Mental Health provides support for activities like parent education, multi-family counseling, community needs assessments, and resource centers that may benefit youth involved in juvenile justice, child welfare, and related systems.

Nonprofit or public behavioral health providers in Mississippi supporting transition-aged youth with serious mental illness or severe emotional disturbance can receive funding to implement the IPS supported employment model. Mississippi Department of Mental Health assistance covers travel and related supports for IPS Employment Specialists to expand competitive employment opportunities for young people ages 15–24, including those with co-occurring substance use disorders.

Community Mental Health Centers in Mississippi can apply for funding to support Coordinated Specialty Care teams using the NAVIGATE program for first episode psychosis. Focused on mental health and psychiatric diseases, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health helps defray operational costs for services to youth and young adults ages 15–40.

Mississippi Department of Mental Health–certified Pregnant and Parenting Women and Men with Dependent Children (PPWDC) providers in Mississippi can apply for competitive, cost-reimbursement grants up to US $50,000 to support an Early Childhood Development childcare specialist. Funding helps cover operational costs for structured childcare services for clients’ young children during substance use treatment.

Grants from Mississippi Department of Mental Health help Mississippi mental health and substance use providers deliver Level 3 low-intensity residential services for adults and adolescents. Funding supports community-based residential care, detoxification, therapy, education and vocational training, daily living skills, recreation, case management, and related services in specialized facilities for individuals who cannot be safely cared for at home.

Mississippi 501(c)(3) nonprofits with $100,000+ budgets can seek funding for mental health, youth development, and job-readiness programs that build skills, stability, and resilience. RBC Foundation USA provides support in communities where it has a wealth management presence, including initiatives that expand access to care and strengthen long-term wellbeing.

Behavioral health and substance use treatment providers in Mississippi can seek funding for high-intensity Level 3 residential services for adults and adolescents needing 24-hour support. Mississippi Department of Mental Health supports programs offering structured residential care, detoxification, counseling, life skills training, and cognitive-focused services for individuals who cannot be safely treated at home or in foster care.

Nonprofits and agencies providing statewide mental health education in Mississippi can seek funding to deliver free, evidence-based programs for individuals with mental illness, their caregivers, and families. With a mission to expand behavioral health education, Mississippi Department of Mental Health supports initiatives like Family-to-Family, In Our Own Voice, Peer-to-Peer, and Provider Education with awards of US $120,110.

Graduate nursing students in Mississippi focusing on mental health can receive US $1,000 to support their advanced practice training and community service efforts. Mississippi Nurses Foundation’s Lane-Ware Graduate Nursing Scholarship aids RNs with strong academics, leadership, and a commitment to improving mental well-being in Mississippi communities.

Veterans and first responders seeking wellness, rehabilitation, and recovery support in Mississippi can apply for the Gridiron Veterans Scholarship, which funds mental health, physical therapy, adaptive training, and holistic wellness programs. With a mission to strengthen the military-veteran community, Bob Woodruff Foundation backs access to high-quality, evidence-based services that improve resilience and quality of life.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits with established mental health or health access programs can receive US $10,000 - US $75,000 from L B Research and Education Foundation to expand or continue proven work. Mississippi organizations focused on underserved populations, workforce-linked care, or innovative, research-informed services may be especially competitive.

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) Grant aims to improve community behavioral health systems by funding the development and implementation of CCBHCs. This initiative focuses on providing comprehensive care, including outreach, assessment, and recovery support for mental health and substance use disorders. Eligible applicants include community-based non-profit organizations and entities affiliated with local government or tribal authorities. The program emphasizes access to high-quality services regardless of an individual's ability to pay.

Mississippi mental health clinics operating as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) can access funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to enhance and expand coordinated behavioral health care. This program offers up to US $94,000,000 nationally to improve outreach, assessment, treatment, care coordination, and recovery supports, including services regardless of ability to pay.

Students pursuing mental health-related degrees who may relocate to study, including those interested in serving Mississippi communities, can use this renewable scholarship for accredited nonprofit colleges or universities. Grants from Central Carolina Community Foundation help future counselors, clinical social workers, psychologists, and sociologists cover undergraduate or graduate tuition when they meet GPA and enrollment requirements.

The Cooperative Agreements for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grants aim to assist states in developing certification systems for CCBHCs and establishing Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) for Medicaid services. Eligible applicants include state mental health authorities and agencies responsible for substance abuse and Medicaid. This initiative supports states that have not previously participated in the CCBHC Demonstration Program, fostering improved mental health and substance use care.

The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) offers 24/7 crisis counseling to individuals in the U.S. and its territories facing emotional distress from disasters. Managed by SAMHSA, the helpline aims to enhance and strengthen access to crucial support services year-round, ensuring that those affected by natural or human-caused disasters receive the help they need to mitigate behavioral health impacts.

The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund offers crucial financial support and counseling for individuals in the theatrical exhibition and distribution sectors facing health-related challenges. This fund assists with medical expenses, housing emergencies, and essential services like vocational rehabilitation and equipment aid. Eligible applicants must have a minimum of three years in exhibition or five years in distribution. The fund aims to provide a safety net for those impacted by illness, injury, or significant life changes.

The John Edelman Scholarship supports student veterans pursuing careers in mental health counseling, offering five scholarships of $10,000 each. This initiative, funded by Student Veterans of America, emphasizes the importance of mental health support for veterans. Eligible candidates must be enrolled as full-time students in the 2025-2026 academic year and maintain strong academic performance. The scholarship aims to reward exceptional achievement and encourage further study in disciplines that promote mental well-being.

Students with mental, developmental, emotional, or physical disabilities, or those who have volunteered with such students, can receive scholarship support for higher education through the Patricia Schroder Memorial Scholarship. Focused on disability and mental health challenges, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington offers $1,000 - $1,400 awards to graduates of specific WA and TX school districts.

Mississippi mental health research institutions and interdisciplinary teams can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to establish ALACRITY practice-based research centers. These P50 centers support high-impact studies to optimize mental health interventions, improve access and quality of care, and advance translational research for youth and adults across eligible U.S. jurisdictions, with awards up to US $1,500,000.

CWR provides Mississippi mental health research institutions with support for clinical repurposing trials benefiting U.S. veterans and active military. US-based academic, nonprofit, governmental institutions and health systems, including VA systems, can apply for up to US $75,000 to test already approved drugs, devices, nutraceuticals, or diagnostics for new indications like PTSD, brain injuries, and related needs.

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Madeline A. Naegle Scholarship for Mental Health Nursing

In 2018, Madeline A. Naegle, PhD, CNS-PMH, RN, BC, FAAN, a national and international nursing leader in mental health/substance abuse education, research, and practice together with NEF created this scholarship with a preference to graduate nurses specializing in mental health nursing.

The Judith G. Whitaker Scholarship, awarded by Nurses Educational Funds Inc., supports nurses pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in nursing. Applicants must have two semesters of study remaining and meet specific eligibility criteria, including a valid RN license and a minimum GPA of 3.6. Preference is given to doctoral students focusing on nursing research. This scholarship reflects over a century of commitment to advancing nursing education and leadership.

The Joanne V. Pontier Scholarship, established in 2022 by Mary V. Insall, honors her sister, a dedicated emergency nurse. With a generous $50,000 donation, this scholarship supports emergency nurses pursuing graduate studies. Applicants must be enrolled in accredited nursing programs and have a minimum GPA of 3.6. Preference is given to doctoral students in nursing research. This scholarship aims to foster leadership in nursing and improve emergency care, ultimately saving lives and supporting families.