Issue Position: Wellness and Mental Health

Issue Position

Alaskans suffer from some of the highest rates of substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide. Intergenerational trauma, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse has contributed to these behavioral health problems. The movement of healing and ending cycles of abuse is beginning and needs support.

Prevention and treatment programs and additional behavioral health professionals are desperately needed across Alaska. We must comprehensively address the opioid crisis and strengthen access to treatment and recovery services.

I will be a champion for a strong re-entry program from prison and drug treatment programs. Alaskans must have the support they need to stay in recovery, find meaningful work, go back to school, reunite with their families, and lead full lives.

We must change from the current system that compensates healthcare providers based on the volume of services they perform and move to a system that compensates based on healthcare outcomes. I support federal policies that make it easier for people to get primary and preventative care to stay healthy.

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