Opportunity Information: Apply for SM 21 003
The Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant is a federal discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). For FY 2021, the program invited colleges and related eligible entities to apply for funding to build or strengthen campus-wide suicide prevention efforts that are comprehensive, coordinated, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based practices. At its core, the opportunity is designed to help campuses move beyond isolated activities and instead develop an integrated approach that connects prevention, early identification, referral, and treatment supports in a way that is practical and sustainable for students.
The program’s purpose centers on improving mental health and substance use-related supports for the full student population, with a clear emphasis on students who are at elevated risk. This includes students experiencing suicidal thoughts or behavior, depression, serious mental illness (SMI) or serious emotional disturbances (SED), and students affected by substance use disorders that can contribute to academic disruption and school failure. The grant prioritizes strengthening the range and responsiveness of mental health services on campus, while also addressing upstream needs such as prevention programming and systems that help students get connected to care sooner rather than later.
A major focus of the opportunity is prevention and early intervention. Funded campuses are expected to implement strategies that prevent mental and substance use disorders where possible, reduce risk factors, and increase protective factors. Just as importantly, the grant emphasizes promoting help-seeking behavior and reducing negative public attitudes, recognizing that stigma and lack of awareness often stop students from reaching out. In practice, this typically means improving the campus culture around mental health, making it easier for students to recognize when they or a peer might need help, and ensuring students know how and where to access services without fear of judgment or repercussions.
Another key goal is improving the identification and treatment of at-risk students so they can stay enrolled and successfully complete their studies. The opportunity links student well-being directly to educational outcomes, acknowledging that untreated mental health and substance use challenges can lead to withdrawal, academic failure, and long-term harms. By strengthening screening, referral pathways, crisis response coordination, and ongoing treatment options, the program aims to reduce the adverse consequences associated with SMI/SED and substance use disorders. The anticipated downstream impacts include reductions in suicidal behavior, substance-related injuries, and school failure, along with better overall student functioning and retention.
From an administrative standpoint, this FY 2021 opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number SM-21-003 and is associated with CFDA number 93.243 (a health funding category). SAMHSA expected to make approximately 24 awards, with an award ceiling of $2,450,504. The opportunity was created on December 7, 2020, and had an original application closing date of February 5, 2021. Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others” with additional details referenced in the full eligibility section of the announcement, which typically clarifies which campus-based entities, systems, or partner organizations qualify to apply.Apply for SM 21 003
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.243.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 07, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 05, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,450,504.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant (FY 2021)
What is the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant?
The Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant is a federal discretionary grant program that supports colleges and related eligible entities in building or strengthening campus-wide suicide prevention efforts.
Which federal agency administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS).
What is the main purpose of the FY 2021 GLS campus opportunity?
The FY 2021 opportunity invited campuses to develop or strengthen comprehensive, coordinated, and collaborative suicide prevention approaches grounded in evidence-based practices. The goal is to help campuses move beyond isolated activities and create an integrated approach connecting prevention, early identification, referral, and treatment supports in a practical and sustainable way for students.
What does the grant mean by a “comprehensive” and “integrated” campus approach?
Based on the opportunity description, it means linking multiple components into a connected system rather than running stand-alone events or programs. This includes prevention programming, early identification of risk, clear referral pathways, and access to treatment and ongoing support.
Who is this grant intended to help?
The grant is intended to improve mental health and substance use-related supports for the full student population, with a clear emphasis on students who are at elevated risk.
Which student groups are specifically emphasized as being at elevated risk?
The opportunity highlights students experiencing suicidal thoughts or behavior, depression, serious mental illness (SMI) or serious emotional disturbances (SED), and students affected by substance use disorders that can contribute to academic disruption and school failure.
What kinds of campus supports does the program aim to improve?
The program prioritizes strengthening the range and responsiveness of campus mental health services and addressing upstream needs such as prevention programming and systems that connect students to care earlier.
Is prevention and early intervention a central focus of this funding?
Yes. A major focus is prevention and early intervention, including strategies to prevent mental and substance use disorders where possible, reduce risk factors, and increase protective factors.
Does the program address stigma and help-seeking behavior?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes promoting help-seeking behavior and reducing negative public attitudes, recognizing that stigma and lack of awareness can prevent students from reaching out for support.
How does this grant connect student mental health to academic outcomes?
The opportunity explicitly links student well-being to educational outcomes by noting that untreated mental health and substance use challenges can lead to withdrawal, academic failure, and long-term harms. A goal is to improve identification and treatment so students can stay enrolled and successfully complete their studies.
What types of system improvements are mentioned for identifying and supporting at-risk students?
The opportunity mentions strengthening screening, referral pathways, crisis response coordination, and ongoing treatment options as ways to reduce adverse consequences associated with SMI/SED and substance use disorders.
What outcomes does the program anticipate improving?
The anticipated downstream impacts described include reductions in suicidal behavior, substance-related injuries, and school failure, along with improved student functioning and retention.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this FY 2021 announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SM-21-003.
What CFDA number is associated with this grant?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.243.
How many awards were expected to be made under this opportunity?
SAMHSA expected to make approximately 24 awards.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity was $2,450,504.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 7, 2020.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was February 5, 2021.
Who was eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with additional details referenced in the full eligibility section of the announcement. The description indicates the opportunity invited colleges and related eligible entities, and the full announcement would typically clarify which campus-based entities, systems, or partner organizations qualify.
Is this grant limited to student suicide prevention only, or does it include substance use-related needs too?
Based on the opportunity description, the grant is focused on suicide prevention while also aiming to improve mental health and substance use-related supports, particularly where substance use disorders contribute to academic disruption, school failure, or increased risk.
What makes this opportunity different from a series of one-off trainings or awareness events?
The opportunity is designed to help campuses move beyond isolated activities by building an integrated, campus-wide approach that connects prevention, early identification, referral, and treatment in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
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