IDAHO FALLS — A protest on the Broadway Bridge in Idaho Falls on Saturday was organized in support of saving peer support behavioral health services from federal funding cuts.

Several hundred community members gathered with signs and messages including “Save Behavioral Health,” “You Can’t Say You Care But Cut Care,” and “Cutting Mental Health Is Not The Option.” Many participants also signed a petition started by advocate Stephanie Taylor Thompson entitled “Save Behavioral Health In Idaho” on the Change.org website.

According to protest organizers Cecilia Buell and Lisa McCullar, the issue centers around federal funding cuts to peer support programs across Idaho. The loss of funding has severe consequences for both patients and mental health services providers across the region.

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