WHEREAS:
The U.S. continues to experience a severe shortage of appropriate mental health care and substance use disorder treatment, which was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic; and
WHEREAS:
A well-trained and sufficiently sized behavioral health workforce is critical to providing access to such care for patients; and
WHEREAS:
The Health Resources and Services Administration estimates that 152 million individuals, or 44% of the U.S. population, live in places with a shortage of mental health professionals and an estimated 7,500 providers are needed to address the shortage. Fewer than half of individuals with a mental illness are able to access care, and fewer than 1 in 5 individuals in need of substance use treatment receive it; and
WHEREAS:
In 2025, the Trump administration slashed $88 million in funding for substance abuse treatment, mental health services and programs that team police with health professionals and has proposed further cuts totaling $576 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget; and
WHEREAS:
Understaffing in inpatient and residential behavioral health facilities represents an acute worker safety issue while compromising quality of care for patients. Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, residential intellectual and developmental disability facilities, mental health care facilities, substance abuse facilities and other residential care facilities have a significantly higher rate of workplace violence than other health care settings; and
WHEREAS:
Poor working conditions and a lack of professional development opportunities push many providers and other staff away from the behavioral health field and serve to undermine any investments made in growing the pipeline of workers; and
WHEREAS:
Employers are mounting aggressive anti-union campaigns to deter behavioral health workers from organizing; and
WHEREAS:
The loss of psychiatric facilities and bed capacity continues nationwide as public facilities struggle with closures and funding cuts; and
WHEREAS:
A national trend of opening private behavioral health units continues unabated as private equity ownership of for-profit hospitals, making up 14% of all psychiatric hospitals in the U.S., has resulted in worse care, or no care at all, for psychiatric patients with complex needs; and
WHEREAS:
Peers, counselors, therapists, social workers, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists all have a role to play in providing compassionate care to address behavioral health needs.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME opposes the proposed cuts to federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and calls on Congress to restore funding for mental and behavioral health services cut by the Trump administration; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports policies at the state and federal levels to invest in the recruitment, retention and protection of the entire spectrum of the behavioral health workforce, including through registered apprenticeships, educational assistance, loan repayment programs, health and safety advocacy and other strategies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports policies and programs to develop career ladders for behavioral health professionals seeking to grow in their field; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports policies at the state and local level to ensure uninterrupted delivery of behavioral health services, including requirements that public service contractors enter into agreements governing the organizing and union recognition process upon request of a union.
SUBMITTED BY:
Frederick Yungbluth, Jr., President and Delegate
Meredith Hickman, Secretary
AFSCME Council 75
Oregon