Addressing mental illness in America is a source of continued debate and a new report outlined areas in need of change.

The study detailed the role of response teams in a mental health episode.

Andy Wade, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Illinois, sees a need to strengthen the disconnection between the 988 system and the services and facilities supporting post-crisis recovery services.

"The progress has been positive but we need more," Wade asserted. "The crisis system isn't just the phone call. It's also about having a safe and appropriate mental health response, even if that means someone coming out to the house."

He called the system "a work in progress" and emphasized 988 operators should have the tools they need to make immediate handoffs to the right services. Wade acknowledged while law enforcement does a good job, there is often an overdependence on police officers who are not always the best responders. He is encouraged by Illinois legislators' commitment to the crisis system, and wants to continue the forward momentum on funding started by state lawmakers.

The crisis system in Illinois allows people to use it regardless of their ability to pay, which the report highlights as a success.

Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer for the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable, said state lawmakers are the key to change.

"Lawmakers across the country need to understand, one, what does the system look like? And two, what is their role in helping make this happen?" Kimball outlined. "There is no one entity, no one person, that can make a new crisis response system happen."

She added the challenge for lawmakers is to navigate the complex emergency service regulations in place in order to create effective legislation. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 2595 in 2021, requiring insurance companies to cover medically necessary mental health care services.

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is in serious jeopardy after Gov. Gavin Newsom cut it from the new state budget, saying the money was needed to support medical services.

Advocates said they are puzzled because the governor has championed the helpline for years, and lawmakers approved $3 million from a separate fund dedicated to mental health, which does not affect the deficit.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of the nonprofit Parents Anonymous, which runs the helpline, said it is still operating 24/7, for now.

"We're holding on for the next month or so," Pion-Berlin pointed out. "But we need the state to step up, or one of these well-off philanthropists who cares about having that immediate help for emotional support, which is so vital."

Advocates are hoping funding can be restored via a budget trailer bill in the next few weeks. People can call or text and reach the helpline's trained counselors at 877-427-2736. The free helpline has connected with more than 120,000 people since its inception five years ago, and the website CAParentYouthHelpline.org has reached a million more.

Pion-Berlin noted a study in the Journal of Technology in Human Services found a call to the helpline can quickly ease parents' suffering and feelings of isolation.

"The research said that 85% of the callers in less than 30 minutes feel more positive, more hopeful and able to address their issues," Pion-Berlin reported. "There is no other service or pill I know that can do that in 30 minutes or less."

Parents Anonymous also offers free weekly support groups to steer parents and kids through emotional crises of all kinds.

Minnesota teens are using their summer break to set aside added stress and anxiety they deal with during school and as the age group gets more attention for its mental health needs, parents of younger kids are urged not to miss warning signs.

The Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics hosted a discussion coinciding with the start of summer. As parents spend more time with their kids over the next few months, health professionals said persistent behavioral issues among preschool age children should not completely be written off as phases.

Dr. Helen Egger, a child psychiatrist, said key data is consistent with other age groups.

"The rate of impairing mental health disorders in preschool children, here we're talking about children 2-5, is actually the same as the rate in older children and adults," Egger explained.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted the number of adolescents reporting poor mental health is increasing. For younger kids, Egger pointed out pediatricians and parents need to be mindful of things like excessive tantrums or trouble eating and sleeping. She warned there is a misconception kids are resilient and those problems will fade away.

Egger added there is a connection between parental stress and behavioral issues in young children. She recommended parents take an active role in family therapy interventions to benefit the whole household.

"Sixty percent of the families who, when they started therapy, said that they had an unmanageable level of stress," Egger noted. "For 60% after 12 or more sessions, they were at a manageable level of stress."

Egger emphasized Minnesota has strong resources for parents to turn to when figuring out the appropriate interventions. She pointed to the website for the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health as a key option.


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By Brittany Noble for WISH-TV.
Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration

June marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting the challenges men face in receiving mental health treatment and diagnosis compared to women.

Dr. Danielle Henderson, a clinical psychologist at IU Health, explains that societal expectations contribute to the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. Phrases like ‘man up’ and ‘toughen up’ discourage men from expressing emotions, impacting their mental well-being.

“For a lot of men, they feel like they have to keep everything in,” said Henderson. “They’ve been taught or directly told that emotions don’t matter.”

Men suffering from mental illness may exhibit symptoms such as increased substance use, irritability, aggression, and isolation. These behaviors can be indicators of underlying mental health issues like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder.

Henderson notes that men may use more lethal means and act impulsively in cases of suicide, making it crucial to recognize and address these symptoms early.

Creating a space for conversation and checking in on loved ones can be vital steps in supporting men’s mental health.


Brittany Noble wrote this article for WISH-TV.


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