Some Iowans who’ve navigated Iowa’s mental health care system say the state needs more long-term options to treat issues ranging from substance use to schizophrenia. How can the state create a “brightly lit path” for those seeking care?
Foundation 2 Crisis Services celebrated the opening of its new headquarters after a $5.4 million renovation of the Witwer Building at 305 Second Ave. SE in downtown Cedar Rapids. It “legitimizes crisis response for the critical service it is,” CEO Emily Blomme said.
Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ahsley Hinson and Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month in Ukraine.
Lawmakers approve overhaul of Iowa’s mental health system; Willis Dady hosting annual Hops for Housing fundraiser April 27
A plan to overhaul and combine Iowa’s delivery system for mental and behavioral health services is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds to be signed into law.
The companies see a business opportunity in the shortage of inpatient beds for people with severe mental illness nationwide -- but especially in rural areas clamoring for care.
Spring is a season of revitalization and growth — and it’s also a time dedicated to promoting and raising awareness about mental health and wellness.
Dr. Vivek Murthy has said the youth mental health crisis is the “defining public health issue of our time” and called on Congress to put in place safety standards to minimize the harms of social media platforms on children.
Bill, which heads next to the Senate, would merge Iowa’s treatment networks for mental health and substance use issues into a unified behavioral health system. Currently, the networks are made up of 32 regions in the state — 13 for mental health care and 19 for substance use issues.
UI instructor and nonprofit director Fred Meyer reveals new Earthmind programming for students
Advocates hope the governor’s plan to combine mental health and substance use treatment networks will improve access for Iowans. But some worry that until other funding issues are addressed — like low Medicaid reimbursement rates — “We're just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Mental health isn’t just a concern among students. Faculty and staff across Iowa and the nation are facing heightened mental health needs too – both personally and professionally, in their role responding to and managing the student distress they see in their classrooms.
More than two years after launching a 24/7 crisis and support line for University of Iowa students, the campus in January expanded that phone, text, and online chat service to faculty, staff, and postdocs – as part of an ongoing UI effort to “prioritize the mental health and well-being of employees.”
There were 212 licensed psychiatrists practicing in the state in 2021, down from 236 in 2012, according to Iowa Health Professions Tracking Center.
A state official says it would help streamline services offered to Iowans, align the goals of existing systems and eliminate redundancies in mental health and addiction treatment programs.
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