Why does behavioral health matter?
Behavioral health matters because it can negatively affect anyone, children or adults and their families and can lead to substance abuse, homelessness, unemployment, problems at school, etc. The cost to communities can be enormous if not acknowledged and addressed. MORE
What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges?
Resources need to be allocated to address mental health and substance abuse challenges. This could include more treatment facilities and inpatient services, especially in rural areas where access to any treatment is very limited. MORE
How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions?
Through education and community awareness. MORE
Why does behavioral health matter?
Behavioral health issues hurt businesses, who have trouble maintaining productivity. They hurt families, who struggle to care for their loved ones. And worst, they sometimes culminate in those most terrible of tragedies: mass shootings. Behavioral health must be taken seriously and given both the funding and the recognition that it needs to keep our country and our people happy, healthy, and safe. MORE
What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges?
We need public awareness campaigns to bring light to mental illnesses. Very often people are unaware that they suffer from a disorder, and sometimes the only way to reach them is through mass media. Next, we need to dedicate more funding to neuroscience research. We still know comparatively very little about the human brain, and additional research can help us identify the mechanisms behind behavioral health issues, thereby leading us to more effective treatment options. Third, we can curb prescription drug abuse by engaging with doctors and pharmacies to lead patients towards alternative pain management options. MORE
How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions?
The greatest actions we can take to destigmatize behavioral health conditions are in our own personal lives, not at the government level. We can be honest about treatment, show compassion for those with mental illnesses, and talk openly about personal mental health. The government can help, of course, especially by engaging in public awareness campaigns. MORE
Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority?
Absolutely. MORE
What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges?
We have thousands of people suffering in a state of homelessness here in California. Behavioral and mental health are very big issues that we face everyday. I would like to start an educational program that informs people of natural and lifestyle medicine that is currently taking a second fiddle to expensive chemical healthcare. This program would including educating the public about the importance of various lifestyle activities such as: sleep, exercise, meditation, sunshine, affirmations and of course a proper diet. All of these natural lifestyle choices are free and extremely helpful for mental/behavioral health.
California is a hotbed of corruption. There is no faster path to proper behavioral health then the recall and replacement of incumbent politicians that are beholden to corporations and special interest groups. It is time for the People of California to Unite and vote for corporate-free candidates.
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