PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Governor Tom Wolf announced a campaign on Thursday that would expand Pennsylvania's resources and support for mental health.
The campaign, called "Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters," will introduce multiple initiatives that commonwealth agencies will work together to achieve.
Governor Wolf's campaign initiatives include making sure affordable mental health coverage is provided by health insurance, increasing the number of social workers and counselors in schools, decreasing the stigma around mental health and using mental health services, and continuing the training of personnel on suicide prevention and interventions regarding mental health.
"For those struggling with their mental health, we have one message: your mental health matters and it's okay to reach out for help," Gov. Wolf said in a press release issued by his office. "We are stepping up our efforts to ensure every Pennsylvanian can access mental health care and more agencies can respond to the challenges facing Pennsylvanians struggling with their mental health. The act of reaching out for help – or to help – can make a huge difference for someone struggling."
Approximately 1 million adults in Pennsylvania struggled with serious psychological diseases at least once in 2015, according to a study from the University of Southern California. 27% of those adults had a need for mental health care that went unmet, and 42% of those individuals who did not receive care stated that they could not afford it.
