Georgia lawmakers have made overhauling the state’s mental health services network a top priority this session, and one of the most powerful legislators at the state Capitol is leading the charge.
Republican House Speaker David Ralston recently introduced the “Mental Health Parity Act.” The legislative package, which has received the support of Democrats, has many parts.
It would expand the number of mental health providers in the state, make sure mental health services are covered like physical health services, and better train first responders to deal with mental health issues.
According to a recent report from Mental Health America, Georgia is ranked among the worst states in the country when it comes to access to mental health care.
“We like to brag that we’re the number one state in the nation in which to do business, but there is a real disconnect when the number one state in which to do business has the lowest rated mental health system in the country,” Ralston said on Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look.”
