Mayors representing Alabama’s ten largest cities are calling for urgent statewide action to address what they describe as a growing mental health crisis that is straining law enforcement, hospitals, schools, and public safety across the state.

“Every city in Alabama is feeling the effects of this crisis,” the mayors said in a joint statement. “From our police departments and emergency rooms to our schools and streets, the lack of adequate mental health resources is putting a tremendous burden on our communities. It’s a problem we deal with every single day, and it’s getting worse.”

The coalition, known as the Alabama Big 10 Mayors, met this week and identified mental health as one of the most urgent challenges facing Alabama communities.

The group says that local governments are often left to manage the fallout from inadequate mental health care — including rising homelessness, increased jail populations, and emergency rooms overwhelmed with patients in crisis. They also highlighted the growing impact on teens and young adults.

“Our officers are not mental health professionals, but too often they are the ones responding to mental health emergencies,” the mayors continued. “Our hospitals are struggling, our jails are crowded, and our cities are working overtime to keep up. This is a public safety issue, a public health issue, and an issue that demands immediate action.”

The mayors are urging state leaders to take concrete steps to expand Alabama’s mental health infrastructure, including increasing crisis intervention resources, improving access to treatment and recovery programs, and ensuring local governments, judges, and law enforcement have the tools they need to respond effectively.

“As mayors, we’re on the front lines of this crisis,” they said.

“We stand ready to work hand in hand with the Legislature, the Governor’s Office, law enforcement, the judicial system, healthcare providers, and community leaders to develop lasting solutions. When we come together as one with the common goal to address a problem, we can make a real impact. We look forward to working with partners across the state to solve this critical issue.”

The group’s focus on mental health builds on previous public safety advocacy efforts.

In 2022, the Big 10 Mayors successfully pushed for Aniah’s Law, a constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail to dangerous offenders charged with serious felonies including murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse.

Earlier this year, the mayors supported legislation included in the Safe Alabama public safety package, which was signed into law and included measures such as banning “Glock switches” and increasing penalties for firing into occupied buildings.

The Alabama Big 10 Mayors coalition is a nonpartisan group representing the state’s ten largest cities: Huntsville, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Dothan, Birmingham, Auburn, Decatur, Montgomery, and Madison.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].