Hartford, Conn. (WTIC Radio)-Various Connecticut Commissioners testified before a legislative symposium today on mental health and addiction services, paving the way for those issues to be a central focus of the February legislative session.
19 percent of adults in the system are treated for mental health and about 8 percent for substance abuse, said Nancy Navarretta, the Interim Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
"During the Pandemic we saw an increase in anxiety and depression....So we will be looking at those numbers. Surprisingly and good for Connecticut there was a decrease in death by suicide by sixteen percent from the previous year. The number for fatal drug overdoses for 2020 was 1,378," Navarretta said.
Deidre Gifford, the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, said about half of the 526 thousand adults in the state suffering mental health are covered by the Husky Health program.
Commissioner Navarretta added to address the growing case load for young adults, "we've added 22 community beds state-wide, and a recovery support specialist and additional resources that can be accessed on-line, and by phone at https://turningpointct.org.