The Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association (OBHA) will host Candidate Conversations, an event to include presentations by gubernatorial candidate Kevin Stitt and Linda Edmondson, representative for gubernatorial candidate Drew Edmondson. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 2 at NorthCare OKC, located at 2617 General Pershing Blvd. in Oklahoma City. The event begins at 1:00 p.m. and is scheduled to 3:30 p.m.
This event is open to the public, and is a chance for candidates to address the topic of mental health and addiction and plans to address state needs. Approximately one in four Oklahomans has a diagnosable mental illness or substance use issue that requires intervention. Only one-third of Oklahomans are able to access needed services. State funding challenges, along with low reimbursement rates and sporadic insurance coverage, have left many Oklahoma families desperate for help.
“These are priority health concerns in our state, and must be adequately addressed,” said Verna Foust, Red Rock Behavioral Health Services CEO and OBHA board president. “These are issues that are driving up incarceration rates, tearing apart families, impacting our schools and businesses, and inhibiting the ability of our state to progress. We want to know, and believe the public wants to know, what our future state leader’s plans are to address these concerns.”
