Posted on March 14, 2025
Arlington, VA — Today, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released the following statement following several news reports that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) could be facing a staff reduction of 50 percent or more in the immediate future. NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. said:
SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leading efforts to address our nation’s mental health crisis and suicide and overdose epidemic. SAMHSA’s critically important mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and support to foster recovery while ensuring access and better outcomes for all. SAMHSA does this by providing congressionally appropriated grants to states, territories, tribes, and nonprofits. SAMHSA substance use programs have also helped turn the tide on record-high overdose deaths – leading to a 14% decline in deaths in 2023. Currently, SAMHSA:
Unfortunately, one in ten SAMHSA staff have already been fired, and multiple news outlets like The New York Times and STAT are reporting that hundreds more could possibly lose their jobs in the coming days and weeks. Cutting half or more of SAMHSA staff will undoubtedly hurt Americans, worsen this crisis, and impact millions. NAMI’s Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski said:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness
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