The State of Mental Health Care in Oregon: A Call for Immediate Action
Oregon ranks "Dead Last" in the US for mental health services for children and teens
It is no secret there is a mental health crisis in the United States. There is a lack of awareness regarding mental health issues, veterans are returning from service unable to access the behavioral health services they need, suicide rates among young people are alarmingly high, and there is an overall lack of availability when it comes to services for mental illness—among a myriad of other pressing issues.
Some states in the U.S. are better than others when it comes to access to mental health services. But many are shocked to learn that, according to Mental Health America, Oregon ranks 51st (this includes D.C.) in the nation for youth mental health illness prevalence and access to care (Mental Health America, 2022).
In June, I released a video appeal to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, asking for help. Since then, I have made several appeals, including directly engaging with state lawmakers and sharing my family’s story to highlight the systemic failures of Oregon’s mental healthcare system. Thousands of people have responded, yet there has been silence from Governor Kotek. Her administration has remained strangely quiet, even in the face of statewide and national news coverage regarding Oregon’s abysmal track record in behavioral health services for children and teens.
Yes, Oregon, a bastion of progressive politics (I say that as a progressive myself), can’t seem to get its act together when it comes to mental health services.
As someone with a background in communication and storytelling—having earned degrees from Multnomah University in Portland and Southern Oregon University in Ashland—and as a mental health advocate and social media influencer, I feel a deep responsibility to bring attention to these issues. I am also proud to be a Champion of the Mental Health Coalition, a national organization dedicated to destigmatizing mental illness and improving access to care. Through collaboration with mental health advocates, experts, and creators, the Mental Health Coalition works to create a world where mental health is treated with the same urgency and compassion as physical health.
Recently, the federal Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act was signed into law (U.S. Congress, 2024). This landmark legislation aims to protect children in institutional settings from neglect and abuse by requiring stronger oversight and accountability measures. While this law represents a critical step forward, it also underscores the pressing need for systemic reform in Oregon. If state leaders fail to take immediate action, the crisis in youth mental health will only worsen, leaving families like mine and countless others to continue suffering in an already broken system.
Being a father in Oregon, I have seen firsthand the tragic and scary failings of our behavioral healthcare system. My wife and I adopted three children from foster care. Our two oldest, who have been in our home for nearly 12 years now, suffered the most disgusting and harsh abuse and neglect imaginable at the hands of their biological parents before being removed by Child Welfare officials.
This abuse and neglect have left lasting effects on our two oldest, now in their mid and late teens. As parents, we have struggled for over a decade to get them the mental health services they need. Despite our best efforts, Oregon’s system for behavioral health services keeps falling short.
To be clear, for the privacy of my children, I won’t share their exact diagnoses or specific mental health challenges. They didn’t ask for a dad with a large social media presence, and I respect their privacy. What I will say is that their needs go far beyond standard talk therapy. They require intensive psychiatric care to process the extreme trauma they’ve endured. Yet, the services they need simply aren’t available in Oregon, or the demand is so overwhelming that they are never in treatment long enough to make a lasting impact.
Even families who can afford private pay often find themselves leaving the state to secure the behavioral health services their children need, as reported in The Oregonian. For families like ours, this adds another layer of financial and logistical hardship. At one point, one of our children was in residential psychiatric care at The Parry Center in Portland. To keep them in treatment, we had to drive 276 miles (4 ½ hours) one way for a one-hour in-person family therapy session every week. With other children at home and limited resources, this was an immense strain. For many families living paycheck to paycheck, such a demand would be impossible. This is a prime example of how, in Oregon, accessing essential mental healthcare often requires families to make financially crippling sacrifices.
Making matters worse, many mental health agencies in Oregon suggest that parents temporarily relinquish their parental rights to the Department of Human Services (DHS) to secure care for their children. The number of times we’ve been encouraged to do this by mental healthcare workers, social workers, and attorneys is staggering. This is not just unethical—it’s immoral. Families shouldn’t have to choose between keeping their children and accessing life-saving care. And even within DHS, children are often placed in hotels due to a lack of proper placements, as highlighted by an OPB investigation.
Recently, one of our children was admitted to a local hospital for suicidal ideation. Despite clear warnings from us and mental health professionals about her ongoing risk, the hospital discharged her late on a Friday afternoon, knowing that no other mental health services would be available until the following week. Our oldest ran away shortly after and was missing for four days. This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s part of a troubling pattern of irresponsible discharge practices that jeopardize children’s lives.
When our oldest ran, we turned to the 988 mental health crisis hotline, as instructed. We did so because we had been assured by people at the state level within the Oregon Health Authority that 988 would be sufficient and that the crisis response team in our area would be able to respond. However, the Jackson County Crisis Response Team only operates from 8 AM to 8 PM. During a nighttime crisis, after 30 minutes on the phone, we were told to call 911. This reactive, patchwork approach leaves families without critical support when they need it most.
The broader issue is that Oregon’s mental health crisis stems from systemic failures. The geographical disparity in mental health services compounds the problem. Many services are concentrated in the Willamette Valley, leaving rural families in Southern, Central, and Eastern Oregon with few options. For families already stretched thin emotionally and financially, this is an unacceptable burden.
This isn’t just about my family. All children and teens deserve access to comprehensive mental health services. It’s a moral failing as a society if we don’t provide them with the care they need to thrive. Failing our children is failing our future.
As a mental health advocate, I’ve used my platform to raise awareness about these systemic issues. My “stupid hike for my stupid mental health” videos have resonated with millions, inspiring people to prioritize their mental health and connect with nature. This summer, I plan to hike the entire Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail—456 miles—to bring even more attention to this crisis. After reaching the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, I plan to attend PCT Days, an event that celebrates the Pacific Crest Trail and its community (Pacific Crest Trail Association). From there, I will walk to the Oregon State Capitol in Salem to continue raising awareness about the urgent need for mental health reform. This journey will be followed by a documentary film crew, capturing not only the physical challenges of the hike but also the stories of those impacted by Oregon's mental health crisis and the advocacy efforts to address it. This hike is more than just a physical challenge; it’s a symbolic journey to demand the changes Oregon so desperately needs. I plan to document the hike extensively, sharing stories of resilience, struggle, and the urgent need for reform in our state.
Beyond my social media presence, I actively collaborate with organizations such as the Mental Health Coalition to push for systemic change. This includes advocating for better funding for mental health services, promoting the destigmatization of mental health issues, and engaging directly with lawmakers to address the gaps in the system. By amplifying these issues, I hope to inspire both policymakers and the public to take action.
I do have hope. While Oregon’s failures are disheartening, I’ve engaged with state lawmakers and am encouraged by some steps being taken. But legislation takes time, and many families don’t have that time. I believe Governor Tina Kotek must declare a mental healthcare state of emergency in Oregon, especially for children and teens. This is not symbolic; it’s a necessary first step to address the larger systemic failures.
We need:
More crisis stabilization beds for children and teens, especially in underserved areas like Southern, Central, and Eastern Oregon.
Administrative rules requiring hospitals, state agencies, and providers to collaborate effectively.
Expanded mental health resources and crisis response teams in rural areas.
Oversight and accountability for hospitals and systems that mishandle cases.
A comprehensive root cause analysis to identify systemic problems and explore solutions based on data and best practices.
These are not lofty goals. They are the bare minimum required to address a crisis that has gone unchecked for far too long. Oregon’s children deserve better. They deserve dignity, care, and a chance to heal. It’s time for our leaders to act and fix a mental healthcare system that has failed Oregonians for far too long.
I’m asking Oregonians to write to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and ask her to declare a Mental Health State of Emergency for Children and Teens in Oregon.
Go to this link: https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
Fill out the form and in the message box you can use the following template, with your own name and information.
Dear Governor Kotek,
My name is ______, and I live in ______, Oregon.
I am deeply concerned about the mental healthcare crisis affecting children and teens in our state. According to Mental Health America, Oregon ranks last in the nation for mental healthcare services for young people, as reported by The Oregonian and PBS NewsHour.
As an Oregonian, I am urging you to declare a state of emergency for mental healthcare, particularly for children and teens, to address the following critical issues:
More crisis stabilization beds for children and teens, especially in underserved areas like Southern, Central, and Eastern Oregon.
Administrative rules requiring hospitals, state agencies, and providers to collaborate effectively.
Expanded mental health resources and crisis response teams in rural areas.
Oversight and accountability for hospitals and systems that mishandle cases.
A comprehensive root cause analysis to identify systemic problems and explore solutions based on data and best practices.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope we can work together to improve mental healthcare for the children of Oregon.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]