Mental health needs outstrip capacity in Oregon

Abstract

Oregon's high behavioral health needs outpace the state's availability of services, according to an audit report from the office of the Secretary of State, The Nugget Newspaper reported May 13. 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 national guidelines and best practices, according to the state's audit. The report, released last week, 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. 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 national hotline 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, at about 20 deaths per 100,000. Rural Oregonians had higher suicide rates than those living in urban areas. The audit found that only one of Oregon's services — its crisis hotline — has sustainable funding. Oregon set aside this funding through a law implementing a 50-cent 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.