Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Addressing a growing crisis in the state of Nevada and beyond, UNITE HERE Culinary Union is calling for increased funding for youth mental health. The campaign will focus on direct voter contact to make sure Nevadans understand that sustainable investment in youth mental health is good public policy.
“It’s clear that long-term capacity building for mental health is needed, and a specific source of consistent funding is critical for this,” said Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge. “Nevada needs sustainable, long-term funding to establish, continue and expand programs to train, recruit, and retain mental health professionals, and to fill considerable gaps in Nevada’s mental and behavioral health services system.”
In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association issued a declaration that we are in a national state of emergency for children’s mental health. The pandemic exacerbated things. Nevada shows a particular need for investments to fight the youth mental health crisis, after being named the worst state in the nation for overall mental health. Working people are stepping up to make sure that Nevada continues to make the changes young people need.