Latest news with #CrisisNow
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oregon's mental health needs outweigh its ability to provide services, report shows
The Oregon Health Authority oversees the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. (Oregon Health Authority) This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting '988' or chatting online at Oregon's high behavioral health needs outpace the state's availability to provide services, according to an audit report from the Secretary of State's Office. The state's suicide rate has consistently outpaced the nation since 2000, and it ranks 46th among states for adults with substance use disorders who needed but did not receive treatment, according to the report. And Oregon's behavioral crisis response systems only partially meet the national guidelines and best practices, according to the state's audit. The report, released Thursday, included recommendations for the Oregon Health Authority, as improving behavioral health systems in Oregon can provide health and economic benefits in the long run. For every $1 invested in preventing and treating youth mental disorders and suicide, there is a $24 return in health and economic benefits over 80 years, the report shows. 'We have a behavioral health crisis in our state and too many people are suffering,' Secretary of State Tobias Read said in a press release. 'By implementing these recommendations and treating this issue with the urgency it deserves, Oregon should deliver better services that keep more people healthy, housed and alive.' The Oregon Health Authority lacks sufficient data to understand the need for behavioral health crisis services, according to the report. The agency has not fully kept track of the number of calls made to the 988 mental health hotline and county crisis hotlines. It began collecting data from 988 callers in 2022, but county crisis lines still do not collect this data. The agency also has no way of tracking a caller's demographic information, such as age, race and ethnicity, gender and county. Suicide rate disparities are stark between different demographics. Native American individuals and non-Hispanic whites had the highest rates of suicide in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups, or about 20 deaths per 100,000. Rural Oregonians also had higher suicide rates than those living in urban areas. 'Without demographic data, the agency's goal of eliminating health inequities by 2030 in the behavioral health crisis system is unlikely,' the report reads. Since 2020, when 988 was designated as the national suicide prevention and mental health hotline, Oregon adopted the Crisis Now model, which has three pillars used to respond to behavioral crises across the state. These pillars are the 988 crisis hotline, mobile crisis teams and stabilization centers. The audit found that only one of Oregon's pillars — its crisis hotline — has sustainable funding. Oregon set aside this funding through a law implementing a $0.50 monthly fee for every cell phone and landline. That fund also supports some of Oregon's mobile crisis teams. The mobile teams can also receive Medicaid reimbursements. However, there is no funding dedicated for Oregon's three crisis stabilization centers, which is needed to support the continued operation of these centers. Without sustainable funding support for crisis stabilization centers, many Oregonians end up in emergency departments or have to wait for a space to open at a center. This creates a backlog of patients waiting for the appropriate care, including those who may be placed on a hold awaiting civil commitment. The report also highlights the need for behavioral health services for youth. In 2022, the state's youth suicide rate was 14.2 per 100,000 compared to 10 per 100,000 nationally, with the highest rates occurring during ages 18 to 24 years of age. And nearly every year from 2003 to 2022, Oregon's youth suicide rate has been higher than the national rate, except for the year 2010. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 2021-2022 National Surveys on drug use: 15% of Oregon youth and 7% of Oregon adults have serious thoughts of suicide. 7% of Oregon youth and 1.5% of Oregon adults have made any suicide plans. About 4.5% of Oregon youth and 0.7% of Oregon adults have attempted suicide. Auditors offered 12 recommendations for the health authority, including recommendations to address its data collection gaps, addressing funding gaps and doing more strategic planning for the future. The health authority accepted all 12 recommendations. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oregon needs ‘urgent action' against behavioral health crisis, audit finds
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Secretary of State's Office released an audit on Thursday, warning the state needs to urgently address the behavioral health crisis as Oregon is among states with the poorest mental health trends and low access to support. The focused on Oregon's behavioral health system and how the Oregon Health Authority responds to behavioral health crises. Among their key findings, auditors say Oregon's behavioral health system lacks data, funding, and a strategic plan to address the crisis. AG Bondi announces 'largest fentanyl bust in our nation's history' spanning 5 states According to the audit, Oregon's health system data has 'significant gaps,' which makes it difficult for OHA and its partners to respond to behavioral health crises. This includes a lack of demographic data on who is calling the 988 crisis hotline. Auditors also discovered that data gathered by different entities is not combined for analysis, while other important data – including outcomes of behavioral health services provided – 'simply does not exist,' the Secretary of State's Audits Division said. 'These data limitations make it difficult for OHA and its partners to understand the full scale of need or even to evaluate how effective their current efforts are,' the Secretary of State's Office continued. 'Worse, these gaps have persisted for 23 years.' Arrest made for driver accused of 'intentionally' hitting Hwy 26 motorcyclist In addition to the lack of behavioral health data, auditors say Oregon inadequately funds its behavioral health response system, the audit says, noting crucial parts of the state's behavioral health system are either underfunded or have no funding at all. This includes funding for Oregon's Crisis Now model, which the state adopted after the Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 was passed. The model is made up of three elements: the crisis hotline, mobile response and crisis centers. Funding was created for the hotline, auditors said, however less funding was provided for mobile response, and no funding was allocated for crisis centers. Shuttered Oregon chateau named among America's 'most endangered' historic sites 'The state needs to adequately fund all three tiers of the system to deliver Oregonians the support they need,' auditors said. Auditors also found a lack of long-term strategic planning in addressing behavioral health along with legal and jurisdictional challenges that limit the ability for Tribes to offer timely and effective behavioral health care in their communities. Overall, auditors offered 12 recommendations for OHA – including encouraging better collaboration with its partners to address the data collection issues, and to develop a strategy to address funding gaps in behavioral health. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In a letter to the Secretary of State's Audits Division, OHA Director Ebony Clarke agreed to the recommendations, noting, in part, steps OHA will take to address data gaps. 'OHA agrees with the need to improve data. The unit will continue to convene discussions and/or listening sessions with behavioral health crisis system partners to better understand the nature and extent of system data, and pursue measures needed for consistent implementation of data collection and analysis for 988 call centers, mobile crisis intervention services, mobile response and stabilization services, and crisis stabilization centers,' Clarke wrote. To develop a funding plan, OHA said, 'The 988 & Behavioral Health Crisis System unit will develop a funding sustainability plan for 988 call centers, mobile crisis intervention services, mobile response and stabilization services, and crisis stabilization centers by the middle of plan will take into consideration Medicaid claims, the 988 tax funds, general fund, and federal funding sources.' Shoofly workers walk out, bid to make it worker-owned In response to the audit, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read said, 'We have a behavioral health crisis in our state and too many people are suffering,' adding, 'By implementing these recommendations and treating this issue with the urgency it deserves, Oregon should deliver better services that keep more people healthy, housed, and alive.' The audit comes as Oregon ranks 47th in the nation for its 'high prevalence of mental illness,' and 46th for adults with substance use disorder who needed, but did not receive treatment, according to the Oregon Secretary of State's Office. The office notes that Oregon also ranks 41st for youth who made a plan for suicide and 44th for those who attempted suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the Oregon Health Authority offers several behavioral health resources. More resources are available through Lines for Life and the 988 Lifeline. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
