#samhsa

#samhsa

We are extremely concerned by reports of the sudden termination of what appears to be the vast majority of the discretionary grants at Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Democrats wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Addressing mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery is a bipartisan priority. By Wednesday night, the White House had cancelled the cuts, one of the first major reversals of terminated or frozen federal funding in Democratic states even as grants for climate projects, childcare and healthcare remain outstanding.

The Trump administration on Tuesday evening unexpectedly canceled up to $1.9bn in funding for substance use and mental health care, which providers say will immediately affect thousands of patients. It feels like Armageddon for everyone who's on the frontlines of the addiction and mental health space, said Ryan Hampton, founder of Mobilize Recovery, a national advocacy organization for people in and seeking recovery.

Employees were notified of a "Reduction in Force" shortly before 8 p.m. ET on Friday, according to a source within the agency who was not authorized to discuss the layoffs publicly. According to the source, administration officials offered no rationale for who lost their jobs: "I think the general feeling today is shock and not understanding why?" the source told NPR.

Two psychiatry organizations the Southern California Psychiatry Society and the recently formed grassroots Committee to Protect Public Mental Health have released statements saying that the actions of the leader of the Department of Health and Human Services have increased stigma, instilled fear and hurt access to mental health and addiction care. "As physicians committed to evidence-based care, we are alarmed by the direction of HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr," the Committee to Protect Public Mental Health said in a statement.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers from across both chambers of Congress introduced legislation this week calling for the Department of Health and Human Services "to dedicate sufficient resources" to the crisis and suicide lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth after the Trump administration terminated the service in July. The measure said this effort would include "establishing, re-establishing, operating, and maintaining specialized services" for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program.