On January 9, 2026, the Joint Appropriations Committee was presented with a letter from Behavioral Health professionals across Wyoming, advocating for different mental health priorities.

The letter can be reviewed below.

Dear Members of Wyoming’s 68th Legislature,

We, the undersigned behavioral health professionals of Wyoming, write to you out of deep concern for our communities and the future of our state. Every day, we walk alongside Wyoming residents who are struggling with substance use, trauma, and the devastating impact of suicide. We personally know the names, faces, and families behind these statistics – and know you do, too.

Behavioral health care is a lifeline. Wyoming’s behavioral health professionals are innovating every day to serve our communities. From expanding telehealth across frontier regions, to collaboration with faith communities, we are finding ways to reach people where they are.

Thanks to recent innovations in the field and investments you helped make possible over the last few years that we have begun to see a decrease in high suicide rates. The data is clear - efforts to address the mental health crisis in Wyoming are working.

Yet, access to this lifeline is fragile.

Frontier areas face severe shortages of providers. Many professionals have overextended themselves, balancing crushing caseloads, limited resources, and critical demand. Without financial support, we risk losing more of the very workforce Wyoming depends on. We believe it is critical to request budgetary funding to be maintained. When these infrastructures are funded consistently, they reduce strain on our hospitals, law enforcement, and emergency rooms. 

We highlight the following for you to consider:

- Suicide Prevention Resources

We are deeply grateful for Wyoming establishing its own statewide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline system. Two in-state call centers now serve Wyoming, helping people in crisis with phone, text, and online support. 988 has proven to be critical healthcare infrastructure. But without funding, our current gains in suicide prevention are at risk.

We urge you to include in your appropriation a funding level for the 988 Lifeline call centers that is sufficient to cover full 24/7 and stable support.

In 2018, the Department of Health developed the current community suicide prevention program as it is today. These prevention specialists have become local experts, assessing their county’s needs and developing tailored programming for their specific county. They do this while reporting outcomes; ensuring efficacy of both dollars and programming. Cutting this public health funding will remove these boots on the ground that Wyoming relies on to combat our isolated and siloed nature. We ask you to continue to fund this vital resource.

- Community Mental Health Centers

Strong community mental health centers save taxpayer dollars, keep families together, and support the retainment of our workforce. They are essential infrastructure similar to our schools, roads, and first responders.

Wyoming’s community mental health centers are the front line of care in our communities. With the recent behavioral health redesign, they have become critical in providing services for Wyoming’s residents who need it most. These centers step in when private insurance is unavailable and when no other safety net exists.

We urge you to continue funding as an ongoing investment in this essential infrastructure. Doing so will continue your legacy of prioritizing Wyoming’s wellbeing.

- Medicaid Reimbursement Rates

Current Medicaid rates for mental health services are below the actual cost of providing care. Though the 68th legislature attempted to address this issue with increased reimbursement rates in the 2025 supplemental budget, ultimately these increases were not realized due to the failure of the supplemental budget.

The current rate for Medicaid creates financial strain for providers and limits access for patients. Increasing reimbursement rates will allow providers to sustain services, retain staff, and continue delivering care to those on Medicaid, the majority of whom are children. Increasing reimbursement rates will ease burdens for providers and invest in the health and resilience of Wyoming’s youth and children.

- Mental Health in Schools

Schools are the first responders for many of Wyoming’s students. The emotional and behavioral challenges that students carry follow them to the classroom. Addressing these challenges often requires professional support beyond teachers alone can provide. In this way, school support staff serve as a triage system, connecting students and families to care. As you consider the recalibration for public schools, we ask that you prioritize behavioral health supports in public schools to support teacher retainment, Wyoming’s families, and improve educational outcomes.  

- Ride for the Brand

Behavioral health is a Wyoming issue which impacts every corner of our state. When you prioritize behavioral health in the 2026 budget, you are protecting lives, strengthening our workforce, and ensuring Wyoming remains a place where people and families can thrive.

We urge you to focus on our communities – and Wyoming’s families and children who are our future. Please continue to legislate according to Cowboy Ethics, and on behalf of your constituents who need your help.

We are proud to serve. We are dedicated to serving needs across the state. We need your help to succeed. With your partnership and continued funding we can continue to innovate and provide care for the health and resilience of our Equality State.

We ask you to ride for the brand.

With respect and resolve,