When someone is ready to seek help for a mental health concern or substance use, that help should be easy to find and available – no matter where you live or what you can afford. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the need for a stronger, more accessible system of mental health care and substance use treatment. In fact, the pandemic made things even more difficult for individuals already receiving care or in recovery. Additionally, the ongoing strain of low pay and high workload for frontline health care workers has created a crisis in the behavioral health workforce.
Tina’s Priorities for Improving Oregon’s Behavioral Health System
- Expand inpatient and outpatient services for Oregonians experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis.
- Help people who are experiencing houselessness and suffering from a mental health or substance use disorder by expanding the availability of trained outreach professionals and increasing housing with supports to keep people stable and on a path to long-term recovery.
- Eliminate the red tape in government and insurance bureaucracies that prevent Oregonians from accessing treatment.
- Invest in a diverse behavioral health workforce by increasing compensation, lowering workloads, and simplifying career pathways and promoting professional development opportunities for Oregonians.
- Ensure access to services that promote social and emotional wellness, especially for our children and youth who have been particularly traumatized during the pandemic.