The Oklahoma Legislative Mental Health Caucus has chosen its two major priorities for this session, preventing youth suicides and filling critical shortages in the mental health work force. The caucus also is expanding its leadership team this year.
Senator John Haste and Representative Merleyn Bell serve as the co-chair alongside founding co-chairs Senator Julia Kirt and Representative Josh West.
“Mental health and addiction issues — especially for children — have increased in the last several years, and we don’t have enough providers to meet the need,” Haste said. “These are difficult issues, but we believe informed, bipartisan dialogue must be part of developing solutions.”
Statistics show that our hospital systems have seen a significant increase in the number of children and youth going to an emergency room for a suicidal crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“We all have experience with mental health issues, whether personally or among family and friends,” Bell said. “Everyone in this caucus is ready to put aside differences and find common ground on issues that matter to all Oklahomans.”
The caucus members are optimistic there is support in the Legislature to address mental health issues this session.
