Arizona Bilingual News

The Best Of Two Worlds

PRIMER: Combating Suicide, Supporting Mental Health

During his State of the State Address in January, Governor Ducey announced Arizona’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan to increase access to mental health care, collect new data and ensure treatment is available to all Arizonans.

The plan followed months of stakeholder meetings and engagement, led by Department of Health Services (ADHS) Director Dr. Cara Christ, and built on Arizona’s substantial efforts to date to combat suicide. 

With suicide emerging as a serious public health issue both nationally and in Arizona, Governor Ducey and leaders throughout the state continue to take action.

These efforts include:
Ensuring Access To Mental Health Care
Governor Ducey in March signed S.B. 1523, also known as Jake’s Law. The legislation, introduced by Senator Kate Brophy McGee and Representative Jeff Weninger, requires health care insurers to 
cover mental health without additional barriers — just like they would cover an annual physical. It also established an $8 million Children’s Behavioral Health Fund to help kids get needed behavioral health services.

Share this: