House Committee on Appropriations Article II Subcommittee: COVID-19 and Mental/Behavioral Health

The Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Article II, heard testimony on several topics. This report addresses the following: COVID-19 AND MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Andy Keller, PhD, President and CEO Health and Human Services Commission, Sonja Gaines, Deputy Executive Commissioner for IDD & Behavioral Health Services Texas Council of Community Centers, Lee Johnson, Deputy Director Cook Children's Hospital, Kia Carter, MD, Co-Medical Director, Inpatient and Consultation Liaison Psychiatric Services Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Andy Keller, PhD, President and CEO. COVID-19 has dramatically increased mental health needs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now tracks mental health needs weekly. As of mid-February 2021: Symptoms of anxiety disorder were up four-fold (33.8% vs 8.2%) and symptoms of depression up four-fold (27.9% vs 6.6%). The number of people seriously considering