Fixing Iowa’s mental health crisis
~by Jennifer Konfrst, Iowa House Democratic leader
With just over a month left in session, there’s still time to make some progress on the issues important to Iowa. I share the frustration of so many Iowans who are exhausted by the divisive politics pushed by too many at the State Capitol this session.
While not every controversial bill will be passed this session, the truth is every bit of energy used on these bills takes away from time that should be spent working together on the issues that we all agree need to be addressed.
And mental health is near the top of the list.
It is estimated that one in five adults, or about 600,000 Iowans, are living with some form of mental illness. And more than 57 percent of Iowans live in a community with a shortage of mental health professionals that means long wait lists to receive care.
It isn’t just adults, either. Too many Iowa kids don’t have access to the mental health care they need. I’ve heard from far too many parents struggling to find a provider for basic services like mental health counseling. Even worse, parents have told me gut wrenching stories about their child facing a crisis like suicide but having to wait weeks or months to get help for their kid.
Over the last several years, the Iowa Legislature has taken some steps to improve the system, but it’s clear we’re still falling far short of what’s necessary. In some ways, things have actually gotten worse.
The Governor made several decisions to cut state mental health institutions, which essentially reduced the number of beds available to Iowans facing a mental health crisis. It isn’t necessarily a bad plan, as long as families can find basic care and critical care is more readily available in local communities through private settings. But it’s a shift in services that requires both a long-term plan and commitment from the Iowa Legislature.
In 2018, state lawmakers created a plan designed to make sure every Iowan could access core mental health services regardless of where they live. It was a step in the right direction, but state funding fell far short of what was necessary to get it done right. There are far too many places in Iowa that still can’t access care because of a shortage of providers.
In 2019, the Iowa Legislature finally created a mental health system designed specifically for children. Today, too many parents still can’t get basic healthcare for their kids because the legislature hasn’t followed through to implement the system.
In 2021, the legislature switched funding for the state’s mental health system from property taxes to the state’s general fund. It’s a step that can work, but lawmakers still have to make the financial investments to make services readily available in local communities. So far this session, the state has handed out $160 million in new corporate tax cuts while the Governor has recommended a paltry $6.5 million increase for our mental health system.
In addition to mental health, there are a host of other issues that have largely been ignored this session because too much energy has been spent on politics or issues that divide us. Some of them include affordable housing, lowering costs for Iowans, and making childcare more accessible.
The good news is there is still time left this legislative session to improve mental health services and make progress on the issues that really impact the lives of Iowans. We can’t let another session go by without taking bold steps to address Iowa’s most pressing issues.
With six weeks to go before adjournment, the Governor and Republican leaders still have time to drop all the politics and make progress for people again.
The Iowans who need mental health services shouldn’t have to wait another year.
