INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 1, 2024) — Indiana State Senator Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis) joined Chairman of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission (BHC) Jay Chaudhary and fellow legislators at the Statehouse to discuss the final report of the BHC and future legislative opportunities based on the recommendations of the report.

Other legislators included State Senator Michael Crider (R-Greenfield), State Representative Victoria Garcia-Wilburn (D-Fishers) and State Representative Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh).

“This is what is looks like when we create bipartisan coalitions and focus on expert voices and solutions,” said Hunley.

Senate Enrolled Act 1 of the 2023 legislative session reestablished the BHC to examine Indiana’s behavioral health care system, with a special focus on exploring the needs of children, older adults and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The final report spells out 19 specific requests to the Indiana General Assembly, including to ensure that all schools in Indiana have the resources to implement the Comprehensive School Mental Health Framework to address the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs amongst students and their communities.

“Because of the in-school ratios, professionals only have the bandwidth to assess and diagnose,” said Hunley. “We need to provide support so that they can treat as well.”

Hunley emphasized the need for a holistic approach and the need to get experts on the ground right away to combat the state’s mental health crisis.