As members and friends of WSHA know, this organization has a long and deep commitment to improving mental health care in Washington.
Improving access to mental health services was our top legislative priority this year, and the legislature made important improvements. We, like many other organizations, were disappointed to see the governor’s veto of some of the legislature’s reforms of Western State Hospital (read our letter to the governor below), but overall, the state is going in the right direction toward expanding care.
But supporting improved mental health care is not just a policy position. Our friends and family, like your friends and family, have been affected by mental health issues. We have loved ones with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse, and we are not alone.
“We” isn’t just WSHA staff — it’s WSHA members, too: administrators and medical staff have their own stories about mental illness and mental health. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, Weekly Report will be highlighting the ways that our members are increasing mental health care services in their community.
We’re also excited to announce that Patrick Kennedy will be our headline speaker at October’s Annual Meeting. Kennedy is former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and has devoted his life to improving this country’s treatment of mental illness, addiction and other brain diseases. He is the author of “A Common Struggle”— a compelling story that weaves together personal experience and public policy in a way that illuminates the challenges, but ultimately gives hope that we can improve care in this country. Read more on his website.
More to come,
Scott Bond
President and CEO
scottb@wsha.org
