The Trump administration has cut nearly $2 billion from mental health and substance abuse programs in the United States. The Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, known as SAMHSA, canceled about 2,000 grants on Tuesday night. Officials said the cuts make up about one-fourth of SAMHSA’s total budget. The funding supported programs that help people with mental health care, opioid addiction treatment, drug prevention, peer support, and services for people who are homeless or seriously ill. These cuts come on top of other reductions at the US Department of Health and Human Services, which has already cut jobs and stopped funding for research. Advocates say the cuts will have immediate and devastating effects on communities that rely on these services, according to AP report.
Why Mental Health Grants Being Cut?
SAMHSA notified grant recipients by email Tuesday evening that their funding was terminated effective immediately. The letters were signed by Christopher Carroll, SAMHSA’s principal deputy assistant secretary.
The agency cited a regulation allowing it to cancel federal awards that “no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities.” However, many organizations said they were given no explanation for how their work failed to meet those priorities.
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Jamie Ross, CEO of the PACT Coalition in Las Vegas, said his organization lost three grants totaling $560,000. He said the explanation made little sense.
“The goal of our grants is entirely in line with the priorities listed in that letter,” Ross said, adding that the lack of detail left organizations confused and scrambling.
Two SAMHSA staff members, who were not authorized to speak publicly, said agency employees themselves were not widely informed before the grants were canceled. HHS did not respond to requests for comment.
What Will Happens To Patients Now?
Mental health providers across the country said the effects were immediate. Some organizations reported laying off staff, canceling training programs, and cutting services within hours of learning about the funding loss.
“Without that funding, people are going to lose access to lifesaving services,” said Yngvild Olsen, former director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. “Providers are going to really need to look at potentially laying off staff and not being able to continue.”
In Boston, Robert Franks, CEO of the Baker Center for Children and Families, said his organization lost $1 million in federal grants, forcing layoffs and putting care at risk for around 600 families.
One of the cancelled grants supported the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, a more than 20-year-old program that provides care to children who have experienced trauma such as sexual abuse, school violence, or domestic instability.
“These programs are probably our most effective tool in addressing the issues that they identify as being critical,” Franks said. “Honestly, I don’t understand it.”
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The National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors said many of the cancelled grants were classified as Programs of Regional and National Significance, which support specialized and community-based care.
The group said some programs appear to have been spared, including 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline funding, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and Certain block grants.
However, advocates warned that even with those programs intact, the loss of discretionary grants would leave major gaps in care.
(With inputs from AP)
