U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, released a report on Tuesday from the Committee on Finance that called on Congress to address the severe mental health crisis occurring in our country.
“The United States is experiencing a profound crisis when it comes to mental health care,” said Wyden in the report, citing the growing number of suicides, drug overdoses, houselessness, and children suffering from depression and anxiety across the country.
Wyden also emphasized Oregon’s position in the crisis, adding that the state’s rate of unmet needs for mental health treatment is the fourth highest in the country, with 57% of adult Oregonians with mental illness going without treatment.
“The house is on fire, and the nation is short on firefighters to put out the blaze,” said Wyden. “This crisis has been made even worse by the disruption, isolation, and loss experienced in the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In their research on the mental health crisis over the past year, Wyden’s committee found that many Americans can’t afford or access quality mental health care, America’s mental health system needs a stronger workforce, and insurance companies must emphasize mental health care to the same extent as physical care.
To combat these issues, Wyden is leading a bipartisan effort within his committee to get people the healthcare they need using programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. He adds that racial, ethnic, sexual identity, and geographic disparities within the health care system must be recognized and addressed to close the gaps in mental health treatment and coverage.
All-in-all, Wyden’s hope for the future is that “every American is able to access the mental health and substance use disorder care they and their loved ones need when they need it.”
By Momoko Baker
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