CONCORD — The House on Wednesday joined the Senate in passing a bill that invests $18 million over the next two years to reform the state’s mental health services for children.

The bill passed in the House on a voice vote Wednesday, cleared the Senate 24-0 in March, and will now be included in budget negotiations between the two chambers in June.

Its provisions include an estimated $4.5 million to create a mobile crisis unit for children, with a group of practitioners who can be deployed on short notice for emergency mental health evaluations.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A bill aimed at strengthening New Hampshire's comprehensive system of care for children with mental health problems has moved another step forward.

The state in recent years has been building a system that emphasizes family-driven, community-based services coordinated across child protection, juvenile justice and other systems. The House on Wednesday passed a follow-up bill, the centerpiece of which is the creation of mobile crisis teams for children within an hour's reach statewide.

Effort launched at start of Mental Health Awareness Month

CONCORD, N.H. —

Experts, advocates and leaders in the crusade to battle the stigma of mental illness brought their message Wednesday to the State House steps for the kickoff of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Advocates said they're focused on children's mental health, an issue they said is sometimes difficult to tackle, but acceptance is the first step along the path to recovery.