Unfortunately, I smiled when I heard that, but I know that mental health issues are no laughing matter.

That’s why, since I started my campaign for State Delegate last year, I have constantly been raising the issue of the need for more affordable mental health care. From teens and young adults battling eating disorders or depression to families grappling with opioid addiction issues, to aging parents facing dementia or other illnesses that affect their mental health, this issue is a priority for many families, but unfortunately not for lawmakers and policy makers. Moreover, veterans who have fought valiantly to protect our freedom are returning from Afghanistan with PSTD; some of the homeless in Baltimore have undergone a brutal winter on the streets because there aren’t enough beds in mental health facilities for them, and that is where they belong; many inmates have mental health issues but jails aren’t equipped for them.

The recent school shootings in Parkland that killed 17 high school students and the St. Mary’s County shooting in Maryland last week that left a 16 year old in critical condition have started to raise this topic a little more. But we have to be talking about this issue, and providing a solution.

A concern that has been brought to my attention repeatedly is the disparity between coverage and assistance for physical versus mental health issues. Many families seeking mental health care are forced to go to out-of-network providers to get proper care. Even if they are reimbursed for some or all of it later, if families cannot afford to outlay the costs up front, they have to postpone treatment. In other words, we have people who need and want help, but simply can’t afford it. That is unhealthy for themselves, and potentially endangers our entire community.

Last month, the Mental Health Association of Maryland published a report (www.mhamd.org/millmanparityreport/) that noted “Maryland is among the worst states for access to affordable in-network behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) services.” It claimed that even for those with insurance (and how much worse for those without), families have very limited access to mental health care. 

Among the study’s key findings, Maryland is the third worst in the entire U.S., with twice the national average of consumers needing to go out-of-network for mental health office visits, at a rate of 1,000 percent compared to primary care visits. It also found that “Marylanders were 700 percent more likely in 2015 to utilize out-of-network facilities for inpatient behavioral health care compared to those accessing inpatient treatment for physical health care.”

The study also showed that medical professionals were likely discouraged from choosing the mental health arena because “mental health and substance use treatment providers were paid over 27 percent less than other providers for the very same office visits billed using identical or similar payment codes.” This unfortunately creates a shortage of professionals to treat our families.

Mental health covers a broad spectrum of illness, and I am not an expert to discuss the specifics. But I know that our community lost, in the past year, several young, vibrant individuals who silently or privately battled mental health issues. On the surface they seemed healthy, smart, educated, fun…seemingly fine.  We have to prevent more losses, and help families who are challenged by mental health issues.

This is just one example of where we need the government to do more. I know that Baltimore City families cannot afford the costs of mental health care. Our federal and state governments must step up and assign more funding for this, making mental health care accessible and affordable for everyone. And we need political leaders who will fight for it. It’s on my priority list.