Political Rewind: Where does GA stand with mental health; 988 line; Jody Hice and Fulton Co. probe
Tuesday on Political Rewind: In their last session, Georgia legislators passed a bipartisan bill to improve access to mental health services. This past week saw further progress with the launch of the 988 phone line, an emergency mental health crisis line, part of a new national network.\n\nThe panel:\xa0\nJudy Fitzgerald,\xa0commissioner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities\nMonica Johnson,\xa0director, Division of Behavioral Health\nRiley Bunch, @ribunchreports, public policy reporter,\xa0GPB News\nTamar Hallerman, @TamarHallerman, senior reporter,\xa0The Atlanta Journal-Constitution\xa0\n\nTimestamps\n0:00 - Introduction\n1:15 - Rep. Jody Hice has been issued a subpoena by the Fulton County special grand jury.\n5:00 - Georgia has significantly expanded its mental health services since the end of the legislature.\n13:00 - Police often are not equipped to respond to mental health emergencies. New mental health service delivery programs like the 988 phone line look to close the gap in response.\n28:00 - Nationwide, those experiencing mental health crises can dial 988.\n38:00 - In the face of staffing issues, incentives for state employees increase employment in health care offices.\n44:00 - Rural, agriculture, and minority communities face increased risk of suicide and opioid overdose.\n\nPlease be sure to download our newsletter: www.gpb.org/newsletters. And subscribe, follow and rate this show wherever podcasts are found.