Global Alliance Listening Session:

Experiences, Concerns and Recommendations from our Members

Background

January 2025 ushered in what has become a mercurial, constant and increasingly chaotic and disorienting set of changes in the United States to many national laws, policies and norms. Presidential mandates, misinformation, disinformation and challenges to judicial rulings have contributed to uncertainty, anxiety, anger and a general sense of mistrust within our society. Relationships with long trusted allies, reliance on critical and ordinarily dependable human resources, and attention to the wishes and desires of the populace have all been disrupted.

Members of the Global Alliance (GA) Board engaged in thoughtful discernment centered on commitment to our mission and values, and imperative to support the well-being of all, including our most vulnerable across the lifespan impacted by their behavioral and mental health challenges. We discussed the current decisions by the administration, the reaction of individuals and groups from a provider perspective, the resulting anxiety, fear and de-stabilization of prior norms and processes and the rapidity with which events were occurring. We struggled with what we could do in response to the significant changes occurring around us to arrive at the best action to support our members and those we advocate for.  

As an organization dedicated to fostering action, we decided that a first step had to include hearing from our members. Therefore, a listening session opportunity was developed and members were informed of a member only zoom meeting that was scheduled on June 12, 2025. During the session, there were three break-out rooms that were organized by local, national and global concentrations. Each room had a facilitator and notetaker who were charged with listening to the experiences, concerns and recommendations of attendees in order to better inform the GA Board. Across the discussions, similar themes were raised.

Discussion

Participants shared their experience and voiced concerns about the volume and inhumanity associated with some of the ICE raids, loss of funding to provide needed services, loss of jobs within the mental health workforce, assault on the work and funding of universities and researchers, censorship, disproportionate impact on people of color, and an unprecedented stoking of intimidation and fear. They shared examples of real-life impact on people in their localities and their personal struggles with how they can best advocate for those affected. Also discussed, was the use of the rise of anti-Semitism as the driver for many Presidential actions with no acknowledgement of disproportionality or harmful impact on a number of other groups. The assault on research and service funding to NIH, CDC, USAID and universities was also pertinent to the discussions. Participants thanked the GA Board for holding the listening session opportunity as it was viewed as a responsive action to an unprecedented time and events.  Specific recommendations tha members shared with the Board
included:

• Utilize our journal, AJO to serve as a voice for resistance to the events occurring, specifically the harm and oppression impacting people and historically dependable and critical services.
• Hold quarterly zoom meetings for the members as a form of connection, support and open communication. It was shared as this is of significant importance as our membership views the GA as a “safe space.”
• Create a website repository of resources and events and a place to preserve
• historical facts.
• Develop a “tip” sheet to support additional “action” steps at the local, national and/or global levels.
• Continue to engage in work, solidarity and resistance with other organizations.
• Continue to develop prevention-focused work.
• Provide information on the moral distress resulting from the drastic and continuous assault to both consumers and healthcare providers.
• Use the expertise within GA to disseminate relevant information within communities.

Next Steps

Members are encouraged to  continue to be involved in and advance our current work and initiatives such as a GA task force, submitting an article to AJO or developing a Perspectives Blog.* As a  uniquely positioned organization at the intersection of human rights, social justice and behavioral health, our priority is to continue serving as strong advocates for well-being for
all. It is through the engagement of our members that we can develop and implement actions to make a difference during this difficult time.

*Please email gro.e1761245252citsu1761245252jhb@o1761245252fni1761245252 with any questions, with the subject line ‘Listening Session’.