January 28, 2019
Whether it’s the high cost of health insurance, the scarcity of state-funded psychiatric treatment beds, or the fear of an institutional setting, Portlanders with mental illnesses—especially those without homes—aren’t getting the kind of care they need. It’s a reality not lost on city officials.
“I’m increasingly of the opinion that we are addressing a major public health epidemic,” Wheeler said last Tuesday, referring to the city’s growing mental health needs. “And I’m not sure we have the right tools in place in able to address it.”