Oregon’s troubling track record with treating teens for mental illness, addiction

Beat Check with The Oregonian

As many by now know, Oregon ranks miserably when it comes to addressing residents’ mental health needs compared to the rest of the U.S.

Especially troubling: Our state is dead last — the absolute worst in the nation — in balancing the prevalence of youth mental illness with access to care.

That’s left many families with a teen in crisis or struggling with addiction no choice but to send them out of state for treatment.

But efforts are also underway to fill some of the most glaring gaps in Oregon’s youth mental health system.

On the latest Beat Check, I talk with Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Nicole Hayden about her recent three-part series on youth mental health in our state.

Read More:

• Without options in Oregon, teens who need behavioral health care go out of state (Part 1)
• Harmony Academy fills gap in Oregon’s youth mental health system (Part 2)
• Oregon mother crafts creative solutions to keep her teen sober, happy (Part 3)
• Oregon ranks miserably for addressing mental health. The reasons are complex
• How Oregon failed to pay for the mental health system it needs

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