Trump Cuts Over $100,000 in Vermont Mental Health Funding Amid 988 Lifeline Concerns and Opioid Epidemic

The mental health crisis among teens is escalating in Vermont and across the United States, exacerbated by recent federal funding cuts. President Trump has canceled over $100,000 in funding for Vermont programs aimed at assisting young people with serious mental health conditions. This decision comes amid a broader national concern regarding mental health, particularly as the country grapples with an opioid epidemic and rising mental health issues. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, designed to reduce reliance on police and emergency rooms while encouraging help-seeking behavior, faces uncertainty due to federal cuts. The reorganization of the federal agency overseeing this lifeline under the Trump administration further complicates the situation. In Louisiana, suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 34, highlighting the urgent need for mental health resources as over 2 million people have called the 988 Lifeline since 2022.