Judy Fitzgerald, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), says national data from 2019 shows that one in ten Americans reported they experienced anxiety or depression — and in 2020, numbers increased to one in four.
“That is a reflection of the experience we had here at DBHDD,” explained Fitzgerald on Tuesday’s edition of “Closer Look.”
Judy Fitzgerald, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. (Courtesy of DBHDD)
The commissioner further explained that the Georgia Crisis and Access Line received an uptick in calls from Georgians of all ages seeking help and hope amid the pandemic.
During the conversation, Fitzgerald discussed several other topics, including her top priorities for 2022, behavioral health reform and newly introduced legislation that focuses on expanding mental health services and access in Georgia.
