Alabama's crisis response needs some improvements to expand its coverage and effectiveness, according to a new report.

The mental health policy group Inseparable looked at 988 crisis lifeline responses by state and suggested ways to enhance them.

In Alabama, it said the 988 call centers have received more than 54,000 calls, just since March but the state's call capacity is only at 75%, below the target of 90%.

Kim Boswell, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, said efforts are underway to boost the resource.

"The good news is that the Opioid Commission appropriated $3 million to help us with the call center capacity," Boswell pointed out. "I feel like with the $3 million, we will get to our 90% goal of calls being answered in-state."

She noted the crisis system has improved access to care since its launch. It has diverted more than 1,600 people to mental health resources rather than sending them to jail and diverted 6,700 from emergency departments. It's also helped over 9400 people receive mental health evaluations at crisis centers.

The report also called attention to the state's need to increase the number of mobile crisis response teams and crisis center beds. Boswell acknowledged the legislature has supported the expansion of mobile teams. There are 14 teams to address both adult and child crises, with plans for further expansion.

"We would love to have a mobile crisis team in every county, or at least coverage for every county, especially some of our more rural counties," Boswell emphasized. "Because as you know, a big barrier to care is transportation."

She added more funding has also been allocated to increase residential substance use treatment beds, which had not been expanded since the 1970s. And efforts are ongoing to ensure access to care for both Medicaid-eligible people and those without insurance.

Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer for Inseparable, said to enhance services and extend its reach across the state, the report asks state legislatures to focus on sustainable funding sources and accountability measures for the crisis response system.

"By having these accountability pieces, this allows legislators to oversee the system over the long haul," Kimball stressed. "And to set up the structures for continuous learning, continuous system improvement."

She explained data collection, annual reporting and coordination between the 988 and 911 systems are ways states can make them more accountable.

Indiana families are preparing kids for back-to-school season, and mental-health experts say emotional readiness is just as important as school supplies.

Beth Trammell, a psychologist and professor at Indiana University East, said kids often carry anxiety into the new school year. She encouraged parents to help children identify those fears.

"We as parents or caregivers think, 'Don't worry, or don't stress.' Instead, we might want to say, 'OK, well, let's talk about what it is you're worried about. What is the worst thing you think could happen?' If we draw it out of them," she said, "it may give them space to kind of let that out."

Helping kids feel heard can reduce stress. But experts also urge balance, keeping mornings calm, easing into routines, and not overloading schedules the first few weeks.

Nicole Brady, chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare, said mental-health support should remain a priority throughout the year.

"Though we want our kids to be involved in activities and be social," she said, "we have to watch their academic performance, their mood, those sleep patterns, and making sure that those are staying healthy."

Brady added that parents should talk regularly with kids, model healthy coping and seek help early if warning signs appear.


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After a legislative session which opened doors to expand mental health care services across Montana, a state commission said it is considering the Billings area to build the state's second forensic facility.

For people involved in Montana's justice system whom a judge has deemed not mentally fit for their own defense, there are 53 beds in the state's only forensic facility in Galen. The daily waitlist hovers at about 100 people.

Matt Kuntz, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Montana, said it is not meeting the immense need.

"It's just a really bad situation for the people that are in the jails, for the people that are caring for them, for the taxpayers," Kuntz outlined. "It just doesn't work for anybody."

At a recent commission meeting, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton said the state is identifying a location for a new facility. The department received nearly $27 million from the state in April to fund project planning.

Kuntz noted the Montana Legislature passed many bills this session centered on mental health care.

"We really were able to get big wins in access to outpatient care, access to crisis care and for people in need of forensic hospital," Kuntz explained. "Overall, it was really an amazing legislative session for Montanans with mental health conditions."

Other mental health legislation will boost school-based services, youth in residential care, the state's 988 crisis line and certified community behavioral health clinics.


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The California Parent and Youth Helpline is in serious jeopardy after Gov. Gavin Newsom cut it from the new state budget, saying the money was needed to support medical services.

Advocates said they are puzzled because the governor has championed the helpline for years, and lawmakers approved $3 million from a separate fund dedicated to mental health, which does not affect the deficit.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of the nonprofit Parents Anonymous, which runs the helpline, said it is still operating 24/7, for now.

"We're holding on for the next month or so," Pion-Berlin pointed out. "But we need the state to step up, or one of these well-off philanthropists who cares about having that immediate help for emotional support, which is so vital."

Advocates are hoping funding can be restored via a budget trailer bill in the next few weeks. People can call or text and reach the helpline's trained counselors at 877-427-2736. The free helpline has connected with more than 120,000 people since its inception five years ago, and the website CAParentYouthHelpline.org has reached a million more.

Pion-Berlin noted a study in the Journal of Technology in Human Services found a call to the helpline can quickly ease parents' suffering and feelings of isolation.

"The research said that 85% of the callers in less than 30 minutes feel more positive, more hopeful and able to address their issues," Pion-Berlin reported. "There is no other service or pill I know that can do that in 30 minutes or less."

Parents Anonymous also offers free weekly support groups to steer parents and kids through emotional crises of all kinds.