Statement from NAMI Raises Concerns About Administration's Proposed HHS Overhaul

, /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plan to reorganize the agency and make major staff and structural changes that would impact our national efforts to address America's mental health, suicide, and substance use crises. NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. said:

"NAMI is deeply concerned by the proposed plans that would change the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as we know it and reduce our nation's capacity to improve care for people with mental illness. Having an agency focused on mental health and substance use conditions has elevated the national conversation and reduced stigma around these conditions. We fear that the changes proposed, along with cuts to other critically important HHS agencies, like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), could have disastrous implications for the tens of millions of Americans affected by mental illness."

On Thursday, March 27, HHS announced plans to reduce the workforce by about 10,000 full-time employees which, when combined with the 10,000 staff who have already departed HHS this year, would reduce the total agency workforce by roughly 25%. This would include roughly 1,200 positions at NIH and an unknown number of positions within SAMHSA. It is the primary agency responsible for supporting state efforts in providing mental health and substance use treatment services, including education and training for the behavioral health workforce, prevention and early intervention programs, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The proposed plan would reorganize functions, including moving SAMHSA under the umbrella of a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).

SAMHSA staff oversee nearly $7 billion in grants that help states meet the needs of people with mental illness. Such drastic changes to its structure and staffing threaten to disrupt the availability of these lifesaving resources. NAMI's Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski said:

"The work of the staff at SAMHSA saves lives. We welcome thoughtful exploration into ways to enhance SAMHSA's operations based on data that shows how changes will improve outcomes for people with mental illness. However, we cannot diminish the capacity or significance of SAMHSA and risk the progress we've made as a country in addressing our mental health crisis – a crisis that impacts nearly every family in every corner of our country."

About 84.5 million adults have a mental health and/or substance use condition, with the U.S. continuing to navigate a well-documented mental health, overdose, and suicide crisis. Tragically, more than 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023. SAMHSA — the only federal agency dedicated to supporting people with mental health and substance use conditions — has contributed to the great progress we've made in recent years to address these statistics, including a 24% decrease in overdose deaths last year and the successful launch and growth of the 988 Lifeline.

The NAMI community knows too well that few families are untouched by either an overdose death, a loss to suicide, or someone struggling with their mental health. NAMI urges our nation's leaders to continue the bipartisan progress we've made in addressing our country's mental health and substance use crises and ensure that HHS and SAMHSA staff can continue their critical work during a time when it is desperately needed.

SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)