Democratic legislators still sponsor more mental health legislation than their GOP colleagues — about 10,000 bills so far this year. In Minnesota, GOP state senators have proposed an additional $25 million for mental health services for students, farmers, expectant mothers and homeless people. In June, Abbott signed legislation that increases mental health training for teachers while also expanding students’ access to school-based counseling. In other states, GOP lawmakers are blocking red-flag bills in favor of proposed changes to mental health laws or funding. When adjusted for inflation and population growth, states in 2015 were spending less on mental health than they did in 1981, according to a study last year by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute.

Source: Washington Post October 06, 2019 22:04 UTC