Trump Administration Cuts Funding for Life-Saving Illinois Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2026
CONTACTS:
James.Leach@illinois.gov (IDPH)
lrecord@isbe.net (ISBE)
CHICAGO—This week, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) received notice from the Trump Administration that funding for five critical behavioral health and suicide prevention programs, totaling over $5.94 million and affecting hundreds of people and providers, has been cut.
“The Trump Administration cutting these life-saving behavioral health programs is nothing short of abject cruelty. While Trump pretends to care about MAHA and keeping Americans healthy and safe, he’s shamelessly pulling the plug on programs that improve Americans’ mental health, prevent suicide, and help our most vulnerable,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “If Trump truly wanted to reduce crime and make our cities safer, he wouldn’t rip resources away from people struggling. Illinois will use every resource at its disposal to fight for the support our people deserve.”
“No matter who you are or where you live, someone you love has likely struggled with their mental health. Stripping federal funding and resources families rely on in their most difficult moments is cruel,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “Know this: every agency in Illinois will fight to protect lifesaving care—especially in the face of these malicious federal attacks. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available through the Illinois Department of Human Services by calling 1-833-2-FIND-HELP.”
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the termination of federal grants distributed by Illinois agencies: the Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success for States (SPF-PFSS) and the Illinois Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths (IPDO) grants, which are distributed by IDHS, the Garret Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention grant, distributed by IDPH, and Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) grant and REACH Out grant distributed by ISBE. Cuts to all five grants are effective as of January 13, 2026.
“These are vital programs that save lives – and when you are talking about preventing the loss of life, the programs are priceless. I’m thankful to work for a state government that sees that value and will work to defend it,” said Dr. David Albert, IDHS Director of the Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery.
The SPF-PFSS program is a new grant that was finalized at the end of September 2025. This five-year grant would have provided $1.8 million annually to support suicide prevention efforts on the South and West Sides of Chicago. As a result of the federal funding cut, the program has been put on hold. The IPDO program, which received $232,000 this calendar year, works to reduce and prevent opioid overdose deaths in high-need Illinois counties through treatment and response strategies. The termination of funding for these grants could result in a loss of up to $2.5 million in federal dollars annually for substance use and overdose prevention efforts in Illinois.
IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra noted that the funding cuts include $735,000 annually through the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention grant, money which supports comprehensive youth suicide prevention programs around the state.
“Tragically, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 34 years old in Illinois,” said Director Vohra. “This essential funding provides much-needed intervention services that help thousands of young people receive screening, assessment, and mental health treatment when necessary. Eliminating this funding puts countless young people at greater risk by depriving them of the critical care, support, and services they deserve.”
“When federal funding is pulled from school-based mental health programs, students pay the price,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “These programs help schools identify concerns early, connect students to care, and create safer, more supportive learning environments. Schools depend on this funding to meet students’ needs, and ISBE will continue working to protect these critical supports.”
Among the programs impacted by the cuts are a statewide mental health resource portal, operated by the DuPage County High School District 88, that provides access to suicide prevention hotlines, counseling referrals, and telehealth services; a program through the Douglas County Health Department that supports school-based health centers with depression and suicide risk screenings, and programs to train school staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid; and programs through Prevention First to bolster workforce development with training in suicide risk assessment and prevention strategies.
The cancellations affect two multi-year, school-based mental health grants administered by ISBE, with approximately $2.7 million remaining. The Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) grant has approximately $1.79 million left and supports the development of sustainable school-based mental health systems through prevention, early identification, and access to behavioral health services. The REACH Out grant has approximately $950,000 remaining and provides trauma-informed mental health screening, referral, and treatment services for students, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities.
The Pritzker administration remains committed to the intent behind these grant programs. IDHS, ISBE, and IDPH will communicate directly with grantees impacted by the cuts about next steps and will continue to keep impacted providers and stakeholders updated.
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