BU Today: Dean Jones Shares the Question She’d Like to Ask Presidential Candidates Harris & Trump
BU Today asked subject matter experts from across Boston University what question they’d like to ask presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Dean Barbara Jones from BU School of Social Work asked, “What is your plan to expand mental and behavioral healthcare access for all?” and explained why this question is important to voters.
Excerpt from “15 Thought-Provoking Questions for America’s Next President, Posed by BU Community”
Americans face a mental health crisis, particularly among adolescents and young people. The number of suicides in the United States has hit record highs several years in a row, and nearly 50,000 Americans died by suicide in 2023. The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, nearly 30 percent of US adults reported having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their life, and a 2024 report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General shows that Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid have limited access to mental health care. All of these issues are significantly worse for communities of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and anyone facing financial insecurity.
These statistics have driven our social work researchers and practitioners nationwide to work alongside our communities to identify the contributing factors to mental health challenges, uncover treatment options and necessary system changes, and recommend policy improvements. But they can’t do it without more structural and financial support. While the demand for services is rising, the country also faces a critical shortage of behavioral healthcare workers, including social workers, who provide the majority of mental health care in the United States. What is your plan to make mental and behavioral care affordable and accessible for all, and what is your plan to address the behavioral health workforce shortage?”