Vermont Cuts Mental Health Beds Amid Staff Shortages | Burlington News

Burlington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 13, 2026 · 1m

Vermont’s psychiatric hospital is shutting down four inpatient beds and cutting three recovery service jobs—positions deemed vacant by the Department of Mental Health, which says it’s struggling to fill them due to chronic staffing shortages. But critics, including Washington County’s top prosecutor, warn this move could dangerously disrupt the mental health system, especially for defendants needing court-ordered treatment, and may trigger a cascade effect across all levels of care. With another nearby facility having just closed its unit, the cuts are already sparking backlash from state…