Gov. Kevin Stitt has hired Carter Kimble, who is joining the Governor’s office as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Mental Health and is charged with working with the governor and cabinet secretaries on a health care plan to improve outcomes by increasing access for all Oklahomans to affordable coverage and modernizing services delivered by…
A bill requiring informed consent for nursing home patients and their families regarding the use of powerful antipsychotic drugs has been signed into law. State Sen. Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, is the principal author of Senate Bill 142. Rep. Tammy West, R-Bethany, is the principal House author. The measure deals with the overuse of powerful…
In America today, approximately 45-47 million, or 1 out of 5 Americans, is suffering with a mental health issue; and approximately 1 in 25 adults is currently experiencing a serious mental illness that substantially interferes with one or more major life activities. Sadly, the rate of suicide is at a 30-year high. While more individuals…
The Senate approved Senate Bill 446 to better prepare teachers and other school employees to deal with the growing mental health needs of Oklahoma public school students. Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, authored the legislation requiring the State Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse…
The Senate approved a bill to better equip educators to recognize and address the mental health needs of students. Senate Bill 446, by Sen. John Haste, would require the State Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop educator training programs on student mental health. The Broken Arrow…
There is a proven relationship between marijuana usage and psychosis that leads to violence. People who are schizophrenic are only moderately likely to become more violent than healthy people when they are taking antipsychotic medicine and avoiding recreational drugs. But when they use drugs, the risk of violence skyrockets. That is one point made by…