FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Malory Shaughnessy, Executive Director, Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health, Maine.
207-400-1540, mshaughnessy@masap.org
Betsy Sweet, Senior Policy Advocate, Maine’s Behavioral Health Community Collaborative.
207-441-3060, betsysweet@aol.com
Governor Mills Signs Proclamation Supporting the Movement to Prioritize Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Augusta, Maine – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when organizations and individuals come together to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and promote access to resources for those struggling with mental illness. Recently, Governor Mills signed a proclamation for the month of May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Maine “to shine a light on mental illness and the need for long-term improvements in our mental health care system and increased access to care for all.”
We, the membership of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health, Maine and Maine’s Behavioral Health Community Collaborative thank Governor Mills for this recognition and offer some guidance on how we might meet her stated goals.
Mental health is essential to overall health and well-being, yet it is often stigmatized and overlooked. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine Chapter, one in four Mainers is affected by mental illness. And, according to the Maine Children’s Alliance recently released Maine KIDS COUNT, as many as one in four Maine children ages 12-17 have high rates of anxiety.
Although Maine’s mental health and substance use disorder providers practice year-round, the legislative session is a time our members focus on advocating for mental health resources and reducing the stigma around mental illness and substance use disorder.
We advocate for investment in the Behavioral Health Workforce. Maine has seen a critical workforce shortage for behavioral health services for many years. Without adequate resources for equitable pay, many agencies see turnover rates of 40-50% for direct care staff. This adversely impacts those in need of these services by creating instability in the care provided and in the quality of that care.
That’s why we’re asking the legislature and Governor Mills to support LD 1236, An Act to Increase the Provision of Children’s Behavioral Health Services in Rural Areas and to Provide Support for Families of Children Receiving Services, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to expand children’s behavioral health services for children in families involved in the child welfare system in rural areas by establishing a rural reimbursement rate that includes travel time for providers to rural areas to provide services. Additionally, the bill requires the department to offer grants or other incentives to existing providers to expand services into rural areas.
Maine needs expanded mental health services. Many agencies have closed or reduced service offerings in recent years due to increasing administrative burdens, rules that hinder evidence-based care, and stagnant or unsustainable reimbursement rates. We have been left with inadequate access to care and with some services that cannot adhere to the fidelity standards of the models of care to truly meet the needs of those struggling with mental illnesses.
To that end, we urge Maine’s Governor and lawmakers to support LD 1428, An Act Regarding State Review of Compliance with Licensing Rules of Certain Facilities and Programs Having National Accreditation, which streamlines and reduces barriers to licensure for much-needed direct care and clinical staff. The bill amends the laws regarding licensing of certain facilities and programs, including substance use disorder treatment facilities and programs for children and adults to provide that if the facility or program receives and maintains accreditation from a national accrediting body, it doesn’t also need to jump through accreditation hoops with the Department of Health and Human Services.
To meet the goals of Governor Mills’ proclamation, we must enhance and expand substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services. The need for SUD treatment continues to grow in Maine. There is an increase in the number of Mainers presenting with the increased complexity of co-occurring substance use and mental illness. LD 1178 is a Resolve, to Reduce Barriers to Recovery from Addiction by Expanding Eligibility for Targeted Case Management Services, directs the Department of Health and Human Services to expand eligibility for targeted case management services for adults with substance use disorder.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage everyone to prioritize their mental health and seek support if needed. This can include talking to a therapist, connecting to a peer support group, practicing self-care, and discussing medication options with your healthcare provider. It is also important to continue advocating for mental health resources and reducing the stigma around mental illness.
We invite Maine’s lawmakers and Governor to join the movement to prioritize mental health this May and beyond. Let’s work together to promote awareness and break down barriers to accessing mental health resources.