Amid significant cuts to federal funding, Wellness in the Woods, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization, is struggling to maintain one of its most vital services — the Warmline, a telehealth support line for people in need of mental health assistance.
Wellness in the Woods (WITW) offers peer support to thousands of Minnesotans each month. The organization’s work is centered on helping individuals feel less isolated in their mental health struggles. Monica Yeadon, WITW’s director of process and improvement, emphasizes the importance of shared experiences in supporting people through difficult times.
“Meeting someone where they’re at on their journey and being able to use your experience from your own journey helps people not feel so alone and gives them hope,” Yeadon said. “It helps them fight on.”
The Warmline, a free 20-minute phone service, is a lifeline for many individuals, allowing them to talk through their thoughts and struggles. Kristi, a Warmline operator for eight years, has answered over 25,000 calls, providing support to those dealing with mental health challenges.
“We have callers with paranoia, thinking the community is out to get them,” Kristi said. “We have others who don’t have any family or friends. They tell us, ‘If I didn’t have this Warmline, I wouldn’t have anyone to talk to.’”
However, the organization is now facing the loss of critical funding due to federal budget cuts. Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cut over $11 billion in grants, including $27.5 million allocated to Minnesota organizations through the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS).
Wellness in the Woods, which relies entirely on grant funding, lost nearly a quarter of a million dollars that specifically supported the Warmline. As a result, the organization was issued a stop-work order, ceasing all services after March 24.
“We were told that nothing would be paid past March 24,” Yeadon explained.
Despite the challenges, WITW has managed to keep the Warmline operational, albeit in a reduced capacity. The team, once made up of 12 operators working four-hour shifts each night, has been cut in half.
Yeadon stressed that the Warmline’s services are critical, sometimes even life-saving. “We’ve had people say that they wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for our services,” she said. “We know the work we do is important, and we want to keep providing it for as long as we can.”
Kristi, who has seen the impact of the Warmline on a daily basis, is particularly concerned about the individuals who rely on the service.
“They have no one else to talk to,” Kristi said. “We are their lifeline, and what are they going to do? That to me is more concerning than anything else.”
In response to the funding cuts, 24 states, including Minnesota, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration to halt the reductions. Shortly after the cuts were announced, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, delaying the implementation of the cuts.
While the legal proceedings continue, Wellness in the Woods is relying on emergency funds from another source to keep the Warmline afloat. The organization is also seeking community support, including hosting a memorial walk fundraiser in May, as part of its efforts to raise money and awareness.
With their services facing an uncertain future, Wellness in the Woods remains committed to supporting the mental health of Minnesotans, even in the face of funding challenges.
