103. Arizona, Advocacy, and System Gaps: A Behavioral Health Deep Dive

In this episode of Stepping In It, Jason talks with Will Humble, former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services and now executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association. They dig into Arizona’s behavioral health challenges—from justice-related initiatives to the state’s 49th-place ranking in adult mental health care access. Will shares why mid-level treatment options could be the missing link, the political and advocacy hurdles slowing progress, and how new funding and legislation might help. Tune in for a candid look at what’s happening, what’s needed, and what it will take to build a better system in Arizona.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Identify barriers to care in Arizona’s behavioral health system.
• See why mid-level psychiatric care could improve outcomes.
• Understand how advocacy shapes mental health services.
• Learn how politics impact funding and programs.
• Explore strategies to address workforce shortages.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:02 - Introduction to Behavioral Health System Challenges and Podcast Goals
00:01:11 - Identifying the Missing Intermediate Behavioral Health Care Level in Arizona
00:03:58 - Comparing Climate and Behavioral Health Issues Across Regions
00:05:30 - Arizona’s Low Ranking in Inpatient Psychiatric Care and System Strengths
00:08:17 - The Obstacles to Establishing Behavioral Health Facilities in Arizona
00:14:34 - Navigating State Health Department Regulations for Behavioral Health Facilities
00:19:36 - Timeline and Challenges for Implementing Behavioral Health Pilots
00:21:25 - Balancing Civil Liberties and Pragmatic Care in Behavioral Health Policy
00:23:34 - Importance of Grassroots Advocacy in Advancing Behavioral Health Reform
00:27:23 - Addressing Workforce Shortages in Behavioral Health Across Arizona
00:28:51 - Strategies for Expanding Behavioral Healthcare Workforce
00:29:26 - Personalized Caffeine Use and Self-Care Insights
00:30:56 - Navigating Behavioral Health Challenges in Rural Arizona
00:31:21 - Importance of Intermediate Behavioral Health Care Access
00:32:12 - Engaging Listeners to Improve Behavioral Health Systems

Links:

• https://www.kff.org/statedata/mental-health-and-substance-use-state-fact-sheets/arizona/
• https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ArizonaStateFactSheet.pdf
• https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/04/30/arizona-ranks-49th-nation-for-access-adult-mental-health-care/
• https://arizonamadmoms.com/
• Helping Loved Ones Get the Care They Need: Navigating Arizona’s Court-Ordered Treatment Process for Persons with Mental Illness (Part I of III) – AZ Public Health Association

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Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jz9KMnawOqE