Henry Nickel

Candidate for Assembly, District 40

4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS

Why does behavioral health matter?
Behavioral health is essential to stable communities and a productive economy. Many of our great challenges including crime and homelessness correlate to our under-resourced behavioral health system and related institutions.

What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges?
Increase investment in capacity including expanding our pool of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) by incentivizing and promoting education pathways and accommodating workplace training and career pathways.

How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions?
Invest in treatment facilities, intervention and services intended to address mental health and reintegrate individuals into productive stable lives.

Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority?
Yes, I currently manage a PMHNP education capacity program through the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for San Bernardino County. Based on this experience, we have much more work to do to meet capacity needs and look forward to developing legislation to advance necessary behavioral health policy.

Your question

If you could ask a question for leaders about behavioral health, what would it be?

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