The Real Cost of Cutting Funds for Mental Health Research
As a clinical psychologist and mental health researcher, I spend my days doing a few things: training the next generation of therapists, developing science-based treatments for real people navigating painful emotions and complex relationships, and running studies to see what actually helps (and what doesn’t). It’s work I’m passionate about – and through generous funding from the National Institute of Health (NIMH), I’ve been able to provide free treatment to thousands of clients over the past ten years.
We’re Not Fine: The Political Climate for Mental Health Professionals
Let’s start with the basics: to do our research, we need funding. Most of that comes from the NIMH, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). When I apply for an NIMH grant, I’m proposing studies that take years to design, execute, analyze, and publish. This is how we find out what treatments actually reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. It’s how we improve suicide prevention strategies. It’s how we develop protocols—like the one I created for borderline personality disorder—that help people get better faster.
Now imagine trying to do that when Congress is proposing sweeping cuts to the NIH budget, gutting mental health research in the process. Imagine trying to plan a five-year study when your university is facing reduced indirect costs—funds that keep the lights on in our labs and classrooms—because policymakers decided they want to “trim the fat” from higher education.
Imagine all that happening while a new “Make America Healthy Again” campaign is touting mental health as a priority… as long as it doesn’t involve any science, universities, or (heaven forbid) nuanced conversations about systemic inequality.
Why This Isn’t Just a Researcher Problem
These cuts aren’t just an academic headache. They affect real people, in real communities. When research funding disappears, so does the pipeline for new treatments. Fewer grad students get trained. Fewer studies get done. Therapists rely on outdated methods because we can’t afford to test better ones. The public loses access to care that actually works.
So when someone tells you they’re “making mental health a priority,” but their policies defund research and hobble universities, what they’re really saying is: we want the optics, not the infrastructure.
And the irony is that access to science-backed care that works saves everyone (the client, taxpayers) tons of money because its a lot more expensive to visit the emergency department in crisis than it is to attend outpatient therapy for 10-12 weeks.
Why I’m Still Here
Despite all this, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep mentoring students, conducting clinical trials, and climbing atop my favorite soapbox: speaking out about the difference that science-backed therapy makes—especially for those who’ve been failed by the system in the past. But I’m also going to be honest about what it takes to do this work well, and why we need a public investment in mental health that goes deeper than slogans and awareness campaigns.
You can’t “raise awareness” out of a suicide crisis. You can’t “break the stigma” with thoughts and prayers. You need research. You need a trained mental health workforce. You need policy that reflects what actually works.
So if you’ve benefited from therapy, if you care about kids struggling with anxiety, or if you just want a future where your niece can get help that’s based on evidence, not vibes, please pay attention to what’s happening right now. Mental health deserves more than a hashtag—it deserves a budget.
What Can I do?
If you’re feeling angry, frustrated, or just plain helpless after reading all this—you’re not alone. The good news? You can do something. And your voice matters more than you think.
Whether you’re a concerned parent, a therapist-in-training, or someone who knows firsthand what it’s like to need support, here are a few tangible ways to take action:
Speak Up for Science-Backed Mental Health
- Contact your representatives. Let them know that you support full funding for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and that you oppose cuts to university indirect costs, which are essential for research and training.
- Find your representatives
- Use this template from the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging.
Educate Yourself and Others
- Don’t fall for mental health misinformation or viral pseudoscience. Start with reputable sources:
- National Institute of Mental Health: Up-to-date research and treatment resources.
- Effective Child Therapy (Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology): Evidence-based treatment information for parents and caregivers.
- Psychology Today’s Therapy Directory: A good starting point for finding licensed providers.
Vote with Mental Health in Mind
- Check candidates’ stances on healthcare funding and science. Mental health policy often flies under the radar—make it a priority when you head to the polls.
- Sign up for updates from advocacy organizations like:
