Abstract
From 2005-2010, there have been significant budget cuts to mental health services in Northern California. Resources have been further limited to those receiving the services, and mental health providers have been affected as a direct result of the budget cuts. This is an exploratory study attempting to investigate how mental health providers are responding both personally and professionally to budget eliminations in the State of California. The primary purpose of the study is to explore the stress of providers in Northern California, and to hopefully highlight the importance of support for the providers, so that they are able to stay productive and healthy in the field of mental health and provide much needed services to the citizens of California. A survey was administered to 30 mental health providers in Northern California who have provided services between 2005-2010. The data for this study was analyzed through two different methods; content analysis and statistical analysis. Based on the study findings, there is a correlation between the budget cuts and increased stress for providers of mental health services. Particularly, seventy-six percent of the respondents reported increased levels of work related stress, and one-hundred percent of the respondents reported concern about job security.