May 2 was Behavioral Health Day at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

This is an annual event where patients, family members, practitioners and advocates congregate at the Capitol around a behavioral health issue. This year’s event, scheduled months ago and sponsored by the Louisiana Mental Health Association and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, was intended to raise awareness about suicide prevention and behavioral health. Advocacy trainings were hosted prior to May 2 to educate advocates about proposed increases in all budgets relevant to behavioral health.

The Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic New Orleans (EPIC-NOLA) embraced this as an opportunity to connect with and support other behavioral health providers and to engage patients’ parents in the legislative process. Over the past several months we have dedicated time and resources to this event.

The day before the event, we were informed that the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives were taking off and that legislators would not be at the Capitol. This feels like another barrier on the pathway to care for young people and a strong message that mental health is not a priority in Louisiana. We implore that more intention be given to the mental health needs of Louisianans because Every Mind Matters.

SERENA CHAUDHRY

public health director, Early Psychosis Intervention Program New Orleans 

and

LOUISE BUSH

member of EPIC-NOLA’s moms group