Tri-Cities face a stark shortage of mental health providers. It’s approaching crisis | Opinion
Behavioral health in short supply
I am writing to stress the importance of our community’s lack of awareness and access to behavioral health services in Benton and Franklin counties. Right now, there are 300-400 patients with one mental health provider.
Access to the provider during a crisis is limited, leaving most patients untreated or in the emergency room where proper treatment is restricted. Suicides and attempted suicides by adolescents 10-17 from 2001- 2021 have increased by 73%.
Washington state is currently one of the lowest-ranking states in our nation in serving individuals with mental health conflicts. More than half the counties in Washington state do not have a psychiatrist. In the counties that do have a psychiatrist or other mental health providers, many do not take state insurance.
This affects low-income people and minorities in communities like ours. Recruiting and retaining mental health providers in these areas is difficult. We need to do more within our community and statewide to support mental health issues.
We need to raise awareness of the resources that available. The Lourdes Counseling Center crisis line helps individuals in a mental health crisis by calling 509-783-0500.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Become an advocate or volunteer in making a difference.
Stacey Faylor, Richland
A reader’s retort to partisan court
This is an ode to our partisan Supreme Court — it has overturned a woman’s right to abort. And now it may ban mifepristone — will political bias again be shown?
Alito has flaunted his way — he flew a ‘Stop the Steal’ flag display.
The Court still accepts the AK-47 — school kids still are accepted into heaven.
Is a former president above the law? We have only silence from Kavanaugh. Is assassinating a president’s rival OK? The Court has struggled to rule “No way!”
The Justices’ code of ethics is loaded with shoulds, allowing them to pocket the goods.
The Court’s approval is at an all-time low — perhaps it is trying to compete with Joe. Can it regain the public’s trust? Yes, but moderation clearly is a must.
If Trump wins another term, the Justices will find it rough. No measure of loyalty will be nearly enough.
Can they be brought to their senses? If not, their futures will be like Pence’s.
Russ Treat, Richland
Phones can help in several ways
I do not support the attempts to ban phones from schools. Yes, there may be concerns about kids using their phones too much during class, causing a distraction, but there are many reasons why we should keep phones.
To start, phones are a resource, you can use your phone as a calculator, as your own tutor, and even to help you create essays. Phones can add a lot to the educational system and getting rid of them would completely halt the learning curve, we can’t be stuck in the old times where we had only books and paper. Phones can help you stay on top of your work if used correctly.
Now there are some kids who may take advantage of the phones and not use them correctly in the classroom, but that can be fixed with punishable acts such as a phone box where you won’t get (your phone) back until the end of the class or even the dropping of grades for abuse.
I urge more schools consider the benefits of phones in school.
Tigani Acosta, Kennewick
Dump Newhouse, vote for Smiley
Whether you’re an ardent Donald Trump supporter or a vehement opponent of the former president, there is something everyone should be able to agree upon — and it’s something that Tiffany Smiley has hit spot on in announcing her campaign for Congress: Congressman Dan Newhouse will not be able to get anything done legislatively under a second presidency of Donald Trump.
We can all agree that former President Trump can, does and will hold a grudge. This will certainly apply to pro-impeachment Congressman Newhouse, and we should all assume that Trump will do everything he can to block any priority of Newhouse’s from being signed into law. We should take that into consideration as a community.
It has nothing to do with Newhouse or Smiley or anyone else. It has everything to do with what is best for our district.If we want our priorities heard during the next administration, we need to vote with our eyes wide open.
I’ll be voting for Smiley this August primary. It’s best to elect someone who can work with anyone necessary to get the job done for Washington’s 4th Congressional District. The best person for that is Tiffany Smiley.
Vicky Jones, Pasco
