By Susan Resko, CEO and President
Earlier this week, thousands of mental health and substance use programs across the country were suddenly thrown into uncertainty. With little warning, the federal government sent termination letters to 2,800 grantees, canceling nearly $1.9 billion in funding for services that millions of Americans rely upon.
At Josselyn, a Community Mental Health Center serving some of our most vulnerable neighbors, the impact was immediate. We were informed that our $125,000 Teen Mental Health Awareness Training grant had been abruptly eliminated—effective at once. A program designed to help teachers, parents, and young people recognize the signs of mental illness and connect individuals to life‑saving care was instantly brought to a halt.
More than 6,000 educators, school staff, teens, and community members had already been trained through this initiative. Its reach extended far beyond our organization, strengthening schools, families, and entire communities. To pull support without warning was not merely a budgetary decision, it was a risk to lives.
What happened next, however, demonstrated something powerful.
Across the country, Americans made it clear that mental health care is not optional. People from all walks of life—advocates, health care providers, business leaders, and elected officials on both sides of the aisle—spoke out forcefully. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in fewer than 12 hours, thousands of messages flooded lawmakers’ offices in 46 states. The message could not have been clearer: eliminating these programs would come at a devastating human cost.
Within 24 hours, the administration reversed its decision and reinstated the funding.
This swift turnaround is worth pausing on. It underscores a fundamental truth: mental health has moved out of the shadows. It is no longer a marginal issue discussed in hushed tones. Americans increasingly understand that prevention, education, and early intervention are essential components of public health—and that cutting them is both dangerous and short‑sighted.
At Josselyn, the moment also revealed the depth of commitment within our own community. One staff member whose position was directly threatened volunteered to continue her work without pay until alternative funding could be secured. Our board members immediately mobilized, offering to host fundraisers to keep the program alive. The Chicago Tribune reached out twice in two days to amplify the story, recognizing its broader implications.
These are not isolated acts of concern and generosity; they are signals of a societal shift. We are finally acknowledging that mental health care is health care—and that communities cannot thrive when people suffer in silence.
This is why programs like Mental Health First Aid matter. They equip ordinary citizens—teachers, parents, coworkers, neighbors—with the tools to recognize warning signs, respond with confidence, and guide someone toward help. Education reduces stigma. It creates pathways to care; pathways to Josselyn’s clinical programs. And that saves lives.
The brief upheaval caused by the funding cuts should serve as a cautionary tale. Progress in mental health is fragile. Gains achieved over years can be undone with a single decision. Yet it should also serve as a reminder of what is possible when people speak up and stand together.
Josselyn still faces uncertain times with cuts to Medicaid starting next year, and our already thin margins. Community members are losing health insurance under the changes to the ACA, SNAP benefits are being cut, and inflation is making it hard for families to feed and house their children. Josselyn’s clinicians are supporting our clients who are challenged by these issues. Their work gets harder as times get tougher and more uncertain. Josselyn clinicians are working harder than ever. You can support all Josselyn’s programs with your generous donation.
Whether you contacted your elected officials, donated to Josselyn, or simply paid closer attention to this issue than you might have had a decade ago, your voice mattered. This moment proved that collective action works.
Mental health care is fundamental—to individuals, families, workplaces, and communities. I am so proud of Josselyn’s staff who are deeply committed to supporting and improving the health of over 8000 community members. We must continue to defend it with urgency, clarity, and resolve. When we do, we don’t just weather the storm. We change the forecast.
