To the Editor:
As someone who receives health care coverage through my work, I feel fortunate to have a peace of mind that goes beyond having a steady paycheck. I know how important that is, because I also work in credit counseling and provide financial education services as part of my job. As we continue through Mental Health Awareness Month this May, I’m writing to encourage recognition of the employer-provided coverage plans that represent a leading avenue to care for almost half of all Alabamians.
Comprehensive coverage plans that include access to mental health care can be invaluable to those who need it. As we all grapple with the growing mental health crisis, including here in my hometown of Trussville, we need to break stigmas so we can help our friends and family gain access to this life-saving care without shame. We know that this crisis is not only affecting adults, but children as well. We need to be doing everything we can to protect these vulnerable children. Employer-provided coverage plans financially empower working Americans and their families to access the care they need.
There is no better time than now, Mental Health Awareness Month, to prioritize finding solutions to this crisis before it overtakes the lives of more men, women, and children across this country and the state of Alabama. For many of us, mental health coverage received through employers is the first step.
Sincerely,
Vicki Bailey
