Last month, I had the privilege to attend a virtual Legislative Breakfast hosted by Maine Health for the York County legislative delegation.
While we knew anecdotally that the pandemic has been adversely impacting our health care system in many ways, we were given data to substantiate that the mental health care crisis, which has existed for years, has been greatly exacerbated by the pandemic and reimbursement rates that have not kept up for decades.
The data are important, but let's not forget these aren't just numbers. These are our neighbors and loved ones. For many of us, it may even be our own personal experience. Too many of us are struggling, and for some, the holidays are even tougher.
As a social worker, improving Maine's mental health services has been and will continue to be a top priority for me. That is why I joined fellow lawmakers and advocates last month to organize a mental health summit in Augusta. The summit aimed to address the critical and growing need for mental health care services in our state.
The Department of Health and Human Services has made strides in addressing our state's mental health needs. However, there remains profound need, as well as misunderstanding and stigma among wide swaths of the population, with significant challenges to implementing innovative ideas to assure that services for some of our most vulnerable are being delivered. Those challenges include worker shortages, lack of a career ladder and inadequate pay, and decades of under-resourcing these services.
It is imperative for all of us to recognize that the brain is part of the body, and that mental health care is just as essential as all other forms of health care. We can make a big difference by adequately funding community-based mental health services, increasing wages for direct care workers and reducing the stigma around receiving these services.
Unfortunately, many who need care have gone without. That hurts not only them but also their families and friends and the community at large.
These points about our fractured health care system are particularly poignant during a time of year that can be so challenging for so many of us. However, in the spirit of the holidays and as the weather is getting colder, now, more than ever, is a critical time to go a step further to support others in our community.
One of the many reasons I am proud to live here in our beautiful seaside town is that people in our community look out for one another no matter the time of year. I have seen us all pull together when it is needed most. From donating to food pantries to regularly checking in on neighbors who are housebound, to assisting new Mainers and others in need, we always come together and look out for one another every day of the year.
I want to close by sharing some resources. If you are struggling, you are not alone. If you are doing well this holiday season, you can help by sharing these resources with others.
- Maine Statewide Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Maine) Helpline: 1-800-464-5767
- Peer Support Warmline: 1-866-771-WARM (9276)
Visit Hotlines/Crisis Numbers for more information on these resources. You can also find NAMI Maine's resource guide at NAMI Maine Guide.
Another important note is that the pandemic has made it even more difficult to connect with each other, and we know these interpersonal connections are vital to our mental health. The good news is this holiday season, unlike last year, we have effective tools to keep us safe.
The best way to ensure we can connect with each other safely is for all of us who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Mainers age 16 and over who completed the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago or completed the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series at least six months ago can now receive their booster shot. Find a vaccination site near you at www.maine.gov/covid19/vaccines/vaccination-sites. Wearing face coverings in public indoor settings is another valuable tool.
As we look toward the year ahead, I look forward to all we can accomplish together. We are at an incredibly opportune moment to catapult forward the availability of services and innovation within our mental and behavioral health care system. In the meantime, I wish you and your family the very best as you celebrate the holiday season.
Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, is serving her second term in the Maine House. She is a longtime social worker and advocate for mental and behavioral health care services.