Hi all – we want to share an opinion editorial written by Chuck Ingoglia that was published in The Hill on 5/31. Chuck's piece focuses on the results of our 2022 Access to Care survey, which detail numerous barriers to accessing substance use and mental health treatment. The call to action is around the workforce crisis, and that communities need more substance use and mental health professionals. Solutions in the op-ed focus on key pieces of legislation that would help expand the workforce, in addition to permanently lifting restrictions on telehealth and other solutions.
Op-Ed: "New survey: More than 4 in 10 US adults who needed substance use and mental health care didn't get care." (Chuck Ingoglia, The Hill, 5/31)
There was also a flurry of media activity around support for expanding the CCBHC program. Sens. Roy Blunt and Debbie Stabenow published an Op-Ed in USA Today calling for the expansion of CCBHCS: "Our clinics meet mental health needs and lighten the load on police. Let's go nationwide. (Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Roy Blunt, USA Today, 5/28)
Finally, The Hill also wrote an article about Sens. Blunt and Stabenow's call for action on CCBHCs, which mentions our 2022 Access to Care survey as well: "Senators push for expansion of community mental health clinics."
We will continue to feature earned media like this in our Mental Wellbeing Weekly and CapCon Newsletters (sent each Thursday and Friday, respectively) but wanted to highlight Chuck's piece in particular for you ahead of this week's newsletters.
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Keisha Pitts
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Washington DC
202-684-7457
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