Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations
About This Grant
Mental health challenges among young adults in the U.S. are rising, with 36% of individuals aged 18–25 reporting anxiety and 29% reporting depression, underscoring the need for effective interventions. Socially disconnected youth (SDY)-young adults who experience limited dependable support and disconnection from outpatient mental health services due to social, interpersonal, and contextual barriers—may face additional daily stressors that elevate risks for mental health disorders, suicidality, and substance use. In rural regions known to be underserved by outpatient mental health services, documented provider shortages and geographic isolation further limit access to care and create documented gaps in support. This study will assess mental health needs and outpatient service access among SDY aged 18–25 living in rural areas of the Southern United States. We will leverage Geosocial Network Applications (GSNA) to engage young adults not currently receiving outpatient mental health care. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), a real-time data collection method, will examine daily stressors, coping behaviors, and mental health fluctuations. This mixed-methods approach will provide critical insights into access barriers and identify scalable strategies for improving outpatient mental health engagement. Aim 1: Identify measurable barriers to outpatient mental health service utilization and optimize GSNA-based recruitment strategies through 20 semi-structured interviews examining digital engagement pat terns, prior service use, and perceived barriers to care. Aim 2: Assess the feasibility of smartphone-delivered EMA to monitor mental health in real time. We will recruit 150 participants via GSNA and collect both active (validated symptom scales) and passive (device-based behavioral indicators) data on stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, and coping behaviors to gain a dynamic understanding of how environmental and community-level factors influence mental health. This study will refine GSNA-based engagement methods to improve outreach and service access for rural young adults. Real-time tracking through EMA will provide insights into daily stressors, informing adaptive intervention strategies. Findings will guide evidence-based recommendations for providers and contribute to service delivery models addressing documented gaps in rural outpatient mental health care.
Grant Summary
Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations is a NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health grant providing up to $415K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2028-07-31 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
Not quite the right fit?
Search 9,000+ open grants, or get matches ranked for your organization — free.
Focus Areas
Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $415K
2028-07-31
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations from NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health before the deadline.
Don't want to draft it yourself?
We'll draft the complete application against NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health's requirements, run a quality review, and email you a submission-ready PDF plus an editable Word doc within 5 business days. Most orders deliver in 24-48 hours. Flat $399, any grant size.
AI Requirement Analysis
Detailed requirements not yet analyzed
Have the NOFO? Paste it below for AI-powered requirement analysis.
Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations?
Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations is offered by NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations provide?
Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations provides up to $415K per award from NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations deadline?
Applications for Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations are due 2028-07-31 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations?
To apply for Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Access for Hard-to-Reach Young Populations, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health.