OPINION: Bill in Congress could address mental health crises
Oregon is facing an unprecedented mental health and substance use disorder crisis that’s wreaking havoc on communities across our state.
It’s evident everywhere you go: in our schools, on our streets and throughout our health care system. Tragically, the COVID-19 pandemic only made matters worse with more of our friends, neighbors and family members falling into cycles of depression, anxiety and addiction. In 2021, our state’s age-adjusted suicide rate was more than five points above the national average — a devastating statistic that speaks to the depth of the challenges we face.
We have arrived at a crucial inflection point. Up until now, our recovery from COVID-19 has been heavily focused on rebuilding our economy and workforce, our health care services and our education system. But any recovery without attention to the present mental health and substance use disorder crisis will be incomplete and unsustainable. For those struggling with these challenges, returning to work and holding down a job can be a difficult, if not insurmountable undertaking. Attending to other health needs, such as routine physical exams or diet and exercise regimens, can feel like a chore. And for young people affected by these issues, performing well in the classroom can be downright impossible.
Many of those struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders today acknowledge that they need professional support. However, a significant portion of those in need of help go without it because they cannot afford counseling, therapy or other needed services. In May 2022, a survey found that, among Oregon adults who experience symptoms of anxiety or depression, approximately 32% reported needing treatment but not receiving it. When administered at the national level, that same survey found an average of about 28% — once again putting Oregon above the national standard for all the wrong reasons.
Clearly, this is an issue that disproportionately impacts our state. Oregonians deserve solutions that measure up to the immense challenges we face. That’s why I’m introducing the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act, a piece of federal legislation, inspired by an Oregon health care law, that would grant three free annual mental health care visits to all those insured by Medicare or Medicaid. By specifically targeting those on Medicare or Medicaid for support, this bill would ensure that two of our most at-risk populations — seniors and those who live near the poverty line — can get the assistance they desperately need.
Adults aged 85 years or older have the highest suicide rates in the country, with adults between the ages of 75 and 84 following close behind. Moreover, despite making up just 12% of the American public, older adults account for 18% of all suicides. This troubling disparity underscores the urgent need to ensure that seniors can access the mental health care they need. Medicare Part B currently includes behavioral health benefits, but the annual Part B required deductible and coinsurance force many to delay or forgo care altogether due to lingering costs. With Medicare beneficiaries being more likely to face mental health challenges than the general population, these barriers to access can have dire consequences for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society — which is why the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act specifically targets those on Medicare.
This bill also covers those on Medicaid, many of whom face unique stressors that can contribute to poor mental health outcomes. One in four Americans reported having to choose between mental health treatment and basic necessities, like food and shelter. When you’re worried about feeding your children or finding a good-paying job, seeking mental health care can feel like a luxury — but it’s precisely in those moments of stress and turmoil that access to care is most needed. The HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act is written to empower low-income individuals to seek out mental health care when they need it without feeling guilt or stress about the added expense.
In Oregon, more than half of all adults who have a mental illness receive no treatment — that comes out to nearly 450,000 individuals who are needlessly suffering from often treatable symptoms. With this legislation, we can begin to chip away at the number of untreated adults in our state and across the country. There are certainly many other barriers to care that must be addressed, such as the acute shortage of providers and lack of culturally responsive care. But the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act is a necessary first step in what will be a multipronged, collaborative approach to reimagining how we treat mental illness in this country.
This editorial was written by Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) for the Pamplin Media Group. It published on Thursday, June 8, 2023.