Mental Health
Latest Stories
Children’s wellness report reveals ‘mental health pandemic’
The number of children reported with anxiety and depression increased between 2016 and 2020 by 26% nationally, with 1.5 million more children with anxiety and depression in 2020 than 2016. In Oregon, the increase is even higher.
Meth has changed, and it’s sabotaging Oregon’s mental health system
In the state with the highest rate of meth use in the nation, the drug is driving severe mental illness among criminal defendants at the state psychiatric hospital, and other patients are paying the price.
Oregon mental health services to get over $500M spending boost this year
Oregon health officials announced Friday how they will spend more than half-a-billion dollars set aside for behavioral health services in the state.
Washington is sending youth in crisis to out-of-state boarding schools; taxpayers pick up the tab
Some parents with kids in crisis in Washington are making a heart wrenching decision. They’re sending their children to out-of-state therapeutic boarding schools. And taxpayers are picking up the tab. While these are outlier cases, they highlight ongoing gaps in in-state services — gaps that were laid bare during the COVID pandemic.
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Portland Street Response expands citywide with new answer for mental health, addiction-related 911 calls
Starting Monday, people across Portland looking to assist someone in a mental health crisis have a new option: They can call 911 and ask for the Portland Street Response.
Oregon suicide rates dropped in 2020, advocates say prevention programs helped
Oregon has long struggled with high suicide rates, but the state got a small reprieve in 2020 when it became one of seven to see a decrease.
Internal review finds no violations in deadly shooting by Tigard police officer
The Tigard Police Department has concluded that no policy violations occurred during a Jan. 6, 2021 incident that ended when Officer Gabriel Maldonado shot and killed 26-year-old Jacob Macduff.
As lawmakers and police debated new law, young father with mental illness languished in Vancouver
James was homeless for more than a month. Local police wouldn’t help because of a disagreement with lawmakers over the reading of new use-of-force laws.
Outside investigator will review capacity issues at Oregon State Hospital
In court records filed Friday, Disability Rights Oregon and Metropolitan Public Defender agreed with the Oregon Health Authority to bring in an outside expert to study long running capacity problems at the Oregon State Hospital.
Federal judge orders Oregon State Hospital to admit 2 people stuck in jail for months
U.S. District Court Judge Marco Hernandez granted a temporary restraining order Monday and ordered the Oregon State Hospital to admit two people found guilty except for insanity. The men were ordered into the care of the psychiatric hospital more than six month ago, but have instead remained in the Multnomah County Jail.