Behavioral Health Deficits
I am writing this letter to highlight the importance of our community’s lack of awareness and access to behavioral health services in Benton and Franklin Counties. Currently, there are 300-400 patients for every one mental health provider.
Limited access to health care providers during crisis situations means most patients go untreated or end up in emergency rooms where they cannot receive appropriate care. Between 2001 and 2021, suicides and suicide attempts among youth ages 10-17 increased by 73%.
Washington state currently ranks among the lowest in the nation in providing services to individuals with mental health issues. More than half of Washington’s counties have no psychiatrists, and many of the counties that do have psychiatrists and other mental health providers do not accept state insurance.
This impacts low-income and minority communities like ours. It is difficult to recruit and retain mental health providers in these areas. We need to do more in our community and across the state to support mental health issues.
Awareness should be raised about available resources: Lourdes Counseling Center’s Crisis Line will assist individuals experiencing a mental crisis by calling 509-783-0500.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so get involved and volunteer with causes that will make a difference.
Stacey Feiler, Richland
Readers’ response to partisan courts
It’s an ode to the partisan Supreme Court that overturned women’s right to abortion. And now the Supreme Court may ban mifepristone. Will political bias be on display again?
Alito held up a “Stop the Steal” flag to tout his approach.
Courts still approve AK-47s and school children are still accepted into heaven.
Are former presidents above the law? Kavanaugh is simply silent. Is it permissible to assassinate a presidential rival? The Supreme Court is struggling to say “No way!”
The judges’ ethical code is loaded with “shoulds” and allows them to take advantage.
The Supreme Court’s approval rating is at an all-time low. Perhaps they are trying to compete with Joe. Can the Court regain the public’s trust? Yes, but it is clear that moderation is required.
If Trump is reelected, the Supreme Court will face a tough situation, where any loyalty will likely not be enough.
Will they come to their senses? If so, their future will be the same as Pence’s.
Russ Treat, Richland
Mobile phones are useful in many ways
I don’t support attempts to ban cell phones in schools. Sure, there may be concerns that kids will use them too much during class and become distracted, but there are plenty of reasons why they should keep their phones.
Firstly, mobile phones are a resource. You can use your mobile phone as a calculator, as your personal tutor, and even to help you write your essays. Mobile phones can add so much to the education system, and losing your mobile phone completely stops your learning curve. We can’t be stuck in the old days when we only had books and paper. Mobile phones, if used correctly, can help you keep track of your work progress.
There may be students who misuse their mobile phones in the classroom and do not use them properly, but this can be improved through penalties such as phone booths where the phone is not returned until the end of the lesson or deduction of grades for misuse.
Encourage more schools to consider the benefits of mobile phones in schools.
Tigani Acosta, Kennewick
Dump Newhouse and vote for Smiley.
Whether you’re a staunch supporter of Donald Trump or an ardent opponent of the former president, there’s one thing we can all agree on, as Tiffany Smiley so aptly pointed out in her bid to run for Congress: Rep. Dan Newhouse wouldn’t get anything done legislatively under a second term for Donald Trump.
We can all agree that former President Trump can, does, and will hold grudges. This certainly applies to pro-impeachment Representative Newhouse, and we should all assume that Trump will do everything he can to stop Representative Newhouse’s priorities from becoming law. We should take that into consideration as a community.
This has nothing to do with Mr. Newhouse or Mr. Smiley or anyone else. This has everything to do with what’s best for our district. If we want our priorities to be heard by the next administration, we need to vote with our eyes wide open.
I plan to vote for Smiley in the August Primary Election. There’s no better way to elect someone who can work with whomever it takes to get the job done in Washington’s 4th Congressional District than Tiffany Smiley.
Vicki Jones, Pasco
