The Legislature has spent three years debating mental health reform. We are close to implementing a plan that will treat every Iowan the same—no matter where they live, no matter what their disorder.
Senate File 415 invests nearly $30 million over the next year to ensure that local services do not suffer as Iowa transitions to a regional system. This is a victory, especially for Iowans living with mental illness. But more work lies ahead. We must raise awareness and acceptance of mental illness.
Former Iowa State University basketball star Royce White is doing just that. Royce was a first-round draft pick last summer for the Houston Rockets, but generalized anxiety disorder has made his transition to professional sports difficult and threatens to end his NBA career.
White visited the Senate Chamber on April 25, giving us the chance to hear his story. It’s the public story of a man with exceptional talent who also has the courage to stand up and talk about his mental health struggles in order to help others.
White’s story is the story of many Iowans—our friends, neighbors and family. While he is a professional basketball player, mental illnesses can also affect any Iowan: lawyers, nurses, mechanics and any other occupation. Nearly 60 million Americans experience a mental health condition every year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in four adults and one in 10 children—with no regard for race, age, religion or economic status.
White chose the Iowa Statehouse to kick off a national tour to help end the stigma of mental illness so everyone gets the support and help they need. His story is just one example of why the Legislature has worked so hard to ensure quality mental health services are available to all Iowans.