SILVER LINING OF THE PANDEMIC, IT HAS ALLOWED PEOPLE TO SAY THESE FEELINGS ARE REAL, AND I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT, AND WE WANT TO BE THERE TO SAY, WHEN YOU'RE READY TO DO THAT, WE WANT TO CONNECT TO YOU SERVICES AND SUPPORT THAT CAN WALK ALONGSIDE, AS YOU NAVIGATE.

>> THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISOLATION, THE DEPRESSION PEOPLE HAVE FELT DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND HOW AWARENESS IS HELPING TO REDUCE THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

GOOD EVENING.

AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY 35, I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE'LL HEAR A LOT MORE FROM COMMISSIONER JUDY FITZGERALD, IN THIS SHOW, DURING AN EXTENDED INTERVIEW.

ALSO ON THE SHOW, TWO LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY ISSUES.

AND SEVERAL NEW LAWS PASSED TODAY, AND ARE NOW HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DOESK.

OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS JOINS US WITH A WRAP-UP OF THE DAY'S NEWS AT THE CAPITOL.

BRENDA?

>> Reporter: HELLO, DONNA.

LAWMAKERS ON CAPITOL HILL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HEARD TESTIMONY FROM ASIAN-AMERICANS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION, AND VIOLENCE, AGAINST THEM.

AND RIGHT HERE, UNDER THE GOLD DOME, ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER STATE LEGISLATORS CAME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAGEDY HERE IN ATLANTA.

>> I'M HEART BROKEN AND ANGRY AT THE MASS SHOOTING THAT OCCURRED IN METRO ATLANTA, WHICH TOOK THE LIVES OF EIGHT PEOPLE, INCLUDING SIX ASIAN WOMEN.

>> WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STOP THIS VIOLENCE.

>> Reporter: AND COME TOGETHER THEY DID, AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

THE MORNING AFTER THE BRUTAL MURDERS.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA NAACP, WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

NOT JUST MEMBERS OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, NOT JUST AMERICANS, NOT JUST EVEN RESIDENTS OF GEORGIA, BUT OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

>> Reporter: THE SUSPECT, REPORTEDLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE HAS A SEXUAL ADDICTION, AND THE SPAS WERE A TEMPTATION THAT HE WANTED TO ELIMINATE.

>> THERE WERE FOUR WOMEN WHO WERE ETHNICALLY KOREAN WHO WERE KILLED.

THEIR AGES RANGING FROM 50 YEARS OLD TO 70 YEARS OLD AND AT LEAST TWO OF THEM LIVED AND WORKED IN THOSE SPAS.

THIS ONE FACT ALONE HIGHLIGHTS THE VULNERABILITY, THE IN VISIBILITY, AND THE ISOLATION OF WORKING CLASS ASIAN WOMEN IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLAUK CAUCUS, WE ARE SADDENED, AND WE ARE MAD, AND WE ARE APPALLED OVER THESE RECENT AND CONTINUED ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILIES, ASIANS, AMERICANS.

>> SOME OF THOSE LEGISLATORS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IN ATLANTA TOMORROW.

>>> WITH ONLY FIVE MORE DAYS LEFT IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BILLS ARE QUICKLY BEING PASSED, AND SENATE BILL 34 PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

162-0, AND NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

NOW, THIS IS GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP AND THE FIRST LADY'S MEASURE FOR TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> SB-34 ALLOWS VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHO ARE PETITIONING FOR A NAME CHANGE, TO DO SO WITHOUT THAT PETITION BEING MADE PUBLIC.

WE CURRENTLY ALLOW THOSE THAT ARE VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE TO DO THE SAME.

>> SENATE BILL 163 PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

157-6.

AND NOW HEADS BACK TO THE SENATE.

NOW, THIS IS THE BILL THAT CHIEF JUSTICE HAROLD MELTON MENTIONED DURING HIS STATE OF THE JUDICIARY ADDRESS ON TUESDAY.

>> WE HEARD ON TUESDAY ABOUT THE BACKLOG THAT HAS ACCUMULATED IN OUR SUPERIOR AND STATE COURTS DUE TO THE SUSPENSION OF JURY TRIALS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

HE SPOKE ABOUT THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY.

SENATE BILL 163 IS LEGISLATION DEMANDING OUR CODE 38-161 AND 38-162, TO AUTHORIZE THE CONTINUED TOLLING OF STATUTORY SPEEDY TRIAL REQUIREMENTS FOLLOWING A JUDICIAL EMERGENCY.

>> SENATE BILL 221 PASSED BUT IT WAS CLOSE.

96-69.

THOSE OPPOSING IT CALLED IT QUOTE THE GOLD DOME SWAP BILL.

ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT IS A WAY TO GET AROUND PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

SENATE BILL 221 NOW HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THE SENATE PASSED A STATE INCOME TAX CUT TODAY.

HOUSE BILL 593 RAISES THE STANDARD DEDUCTION FOR GEORGIA TAXPAYERS, LOWERING TAX BILLS SLIGHTLY.

NOW, REPUBLICANS TALKED ABOUT SENDING THAT MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS.

DEMOCRATS TALKED ABOUT SPENDING MONEY FROM THAT TAX CUT, IN OTHER PRIORITIES.

>> I'M OFFENDED AT THE NOTION THAT SOMEBODY IN THIS BUILDING THINKS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING BACK IN MY POCKET BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER THEIRS TO BEGIN WITH.

PEOPLE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PRODUCING.

GOVERNMENT IS IN THE BUSINESS OF TAKING.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR DECISIONS AND OUR WORLD VIEWS, IT WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH FOR DEMOCRATS.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOME GLORIOUS GOVERNMENT PROGRAM OUT THERE.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOME PERSON SUFFERING SOMEWHERE.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOME IDEA THAT WE CAN FUND.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES ME TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE MY MONEY, SO THEY CAN GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> WHEN YOU GO OUT OF YOUR HOME, AND YOU STEP ON TO A SIDEWALK, AND YOU STEP ON TO A STREET, YOU'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF, YOU'RE MAKING USE OF WHAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES.

THIS VIEW OF SOCIETY THAT YOU GET UP AND GO BUILD YOUR WIJTS AND MAKE YOUR MONEY AND PUT IT IN YOUR POCKET AND HELLO AND GOODBYE AND GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF MY LIFE IS ACTUALLY NONSENSICAL IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FOR TWO MINUTES.

>> DEMOCRATS ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT A TAX CUT POSSIBLY AFFECTING GEORGIA'S FEDERAL COVID PACKAGE.

STATE SENATOR LARRY WALKER III SAYS THAT GEORGIANS SHOULD NOT WORRY IN LIGHT OF RECENT GUIDANCE FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

THE SENATE ALSO PASSED HOUSE BILL 114, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE TASK CREDIT FOR ADOPTING FOSTER CHILDREN.

HOUSE BILL 593 AND 114 NOW HEAD TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA.

>>> HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID ROULSTON RECENTLY TALKED ABOUT MAKING MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY IN GEORGIA AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT TOPIC FOR THE REST OF THE SHOW.

I DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH JUDY FITZGERALD, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, ALSO KNOWN AS D Ph.D. D. >> WE PROVIDE TREATMENT AND SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS OR ADDICTION AND PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

OUR PRIORITY IS, I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN, PEOPLE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF NEED, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, AND PEOPLE RECEIVING MEDICAID.

SO IT'S A PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE POPULATION WHOSE NEEDS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

I DO THINK ONE THING THAT EMERGED DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS FOLKS RECOGNIZING, AS EVERYTHING PIVOTED TO REMOTE, EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICE, PEOPLE BEGAN TO SEE THAT THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES COULD BE COMPROMISED BY A DRAMATIC CHANGE, WHICH CERTAINLY THIS WAS A DRAMATIC CHANGE.

AND ISSUES LIKE ISOLATION, AND UNCERTAINTY, COULD IMPACT PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF THEMSELVES.

IT LED TO, THERE WAS WIDESPREAD REPORTING ABOUT INCREASES IN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, AND HERE'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, PEOPLE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY BEGAN TO ARTICULATE, I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT THIS.

AND WE THINK ACTUALLY THAT THAT IS POSITIVE FOR REDUCING THE STIGMA AROUND THESE ISSUES.

>> DOES THAT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING INTO YOUR SYSTEM?

>> SO SOME OF THE DATA HAS YET TO BE BORN OUT, REALLY, WHAT THE ACTUAL IMPACT IS.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THERE ARE A COUPLE OF AVENUES INTO OUR SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM, SO FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR TO US, WE QUICKLY MOVE TO TELE HEALTH WHERE IT WAS NEEDED OR OTHER WAYS TO ACCESS THE PEOPLE HA WE KNOW.

.

INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT KNOWN TO OUR SYSTEM, ONE.

WAYS INTO OUR SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IS THROUGH OUR CRISIS AND ACCESS LINE.

SO WE DID SEE NOT IN THE BEGINNING, ACTUALLY WE SAW A REDUCTION IN CALLS THERE, BUT OVER TIME, WE HAVE SEEN SOME SPIKES.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SEEKING HELP MADE A CALL TO A 1-800 NUMBER, AND SAID I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.

WHERE CAN I FIND, WHERE COULD HELP BE AVAILABLE, AND SO WE ARE REALLY PLEASED THAT WE DO HAVE RESOURCES THAT SAY, HERE'S WHO, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN CALL, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO A PERSON WHO CAN LISTEN, WHO CAN HELP, AND WHO CAN DIRECT YOU AND CONNECT YOU TO LOCAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.

>> WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE TELE-HEALTH, YOU HAD IT RAMPED UP, RIGHT, BUT WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES TO GETTING THAT GOING, DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> THERE'S SOME INFRASTRUCTURE AND ABILITY TO DO TELE-HEALTH PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUT LIKE EVERY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, THIS LAUNCHED US INTO REALLY A COMPLETE DEPENDENCE ON BEING ABLE TO USE TELE-HEALTH, SO IT WAS EXCITING, BUT IT WAS RAPID CHANGE, RIGHT AT THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY-BASED DELIVERY OF CARE.

I COULD NOT HAVE PREDICTED HOW REMARKABLE OUR PROVIDER NETWORK IS, AND THEIR ABILITY TO PIVOT AS QUICKLY AS THEY DID, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT, FOR THOSE FOLKS IN NEED, THAT COULDN'T USE THEIR TRADITIONAL WAY OF GETTING INTO SERVICE, THEY HAD A WAY IN.

SO TELE-HEALTH, WE THINK, IS NOW GOING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION OF THE FUTURE.

BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE NOTE, DONNA, TELE-HEALTH IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR EVERYBODY THAT WE SERVE.

PARTICULARLY WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SO THEIR ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY OR THEIR COMFORT WITH TECHNOLOGY MIGHT MEAN THAT WE'VE REALLY GOT TO KEEP LOOKING AT WHO DO WE NEED TO HAVE IN-PERSON SERVICES FOR, AND HOW DO WE TEASE THAT OUT IN THE TIME AHEAD?

PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY COMPLEX CLINICAL NEEDS, REALLY MAY STILL NEED TO HAVE FAITH-BASED SERVICE DELIVERY, SO HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE, AND FOR THOSE THAT CAN USE THE TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT'S THEIR PREFERRED METHOD, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT POSSIBLE FOR THEM.

>> DID YOU USE SOME OF THE CARRIES FUND.

>> OUR STATE HOSPITALS ARE STAFFED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND WHAT WE FOUND RAPIDLY, LIKE ALL HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS, WAS THAT INDIVIDUALS TESTING POSITIVE MEANT WE HAD TO VERY RAPIDLY SET UP QUARANTINE UNITS, ISOLATION UNITS, PEOPLE HAD TO STAY HOME IF THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED, SO WE PRETTY QUICKLY HAD A SHORTAGE OF STAFF.

SO WE NEEDED STAFF AUGMENTATION.

WE WERE REALLY PLEASED, GOVERNOR KEMP'S TEAM IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THAT THE SAFETY NET HOSPITALS THAT DBHDD RUNS NEEDED TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN, SO WE WERE PRETTY QUICKLY PROVIDED WITH VERY GENEROUS STAFF AUGMENTATION.

THAT'S STILL ONGOING RIGHT NOW.

THOSE STAFF ARE SUPPORTING, TO DO, HERE'S THE REALLY CRITICAL THING THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP THE SAFETY NET DOORS OPEN.

I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE THOUGH ABOUT OUR STAFF.

WE'VE GOT, DBHDD HAS, 5,000 STAFF, ABOUT 80% OF THOSE WORK IN OUR HOSPITALS.

THE DEDICATION AND THE COMMITMENT THAT OUR STAFF HAS SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC HAS JUST BEEN HEROIC.

AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW HOW DEEPLY THEY'RE APPRECIATED.

THEY TOOK RISKS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, BECAUSE THEY WERE SO COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO SERVE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALS.

IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT THE FEDERAL FUNDS HAVE ALLOWED IS A GREAT DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY, SO WE HAVE CERTAIN WAYS OF, IF YOU PROVIDE THIS SERVICE, YOU GET PAID FOR THAT.

WHAT WE NEEDED WAS FLEXIBILITY TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THIS WAS TRUE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS SOMETIMES HAVE, ARE SERVED, THEY'RE IN A GROUP HOME SETTING, AND THEN, AS PART OF THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN, THEY MIGHT GO TO A DAY PROGRAM, TAKE A VAN, WITH A GROUP OF COLLEAGUES, AND GO TO A DAY PROGRAM.

WHEN ALL OF THAT SHUT DOWN, OUR PROVIDERS HAD TO THINK, REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY, SO WE HAD FLEXIBILITY IN THE FUNDING, SO THAT WE COULD BRING STAFF ON TO THE SITE OF A GROUP HOME, TO GIVE RELIEF TO THE RESIDENTIAL FOLKS THAT WERE WORKING 24/7, SO ALL OF THAT FEDERAL FLEXIBILITY HAS BEEN REALLY VITAL, ONCE AGAIN, TO HELP SOME OF GEORGIA'S MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGHOUT.

>> BUT YOU WEREN'T IMMUNE TO, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, TO THINGS HAPPENING WITH PEOPLE RECEIVING, GETTING COVID, PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR HOSPITALS, YOUR STAFF, PATIENTS, AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S A TOTAL OF 1326 POSITIVE COVID CASES FOR, AMONG PATIENTS AND STAFF, AND UNFORTUNATELY, NINE PEOPLE DIED.

>> THERE WERE EARLY DAYS OF CHAOS AND CONCERN, AND PEOPLE REALLY TRYING TO VERY QUICKLY ABSORB LARGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION SO THAT THEY COULD ADAPT.

THE EARLY POSITIVE CASES WERE, CAUSED SOME PANIC, AND I THINK WHERE WE LOST LIVES, IT WAS TRAGIC, BUT WE WERE IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE GOT.

I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR MEDICAL LEADERSHIP, OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, AND OUR MEDICAL, AND OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ATTACH TO, WHAT IS THE INFORMATION BEING PUT FORWARD BY THE CDC, OUR SISTER AGENCY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, HOW DO WE ACCESS THAT INFORMATION, HOW DO WE ABSORB IT, AND THEN HOW DO WE PIVOT TO CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN BOTH OUR HOSPITAL AND OUR COMMUNITY SETTINGS.

VERY PARTICULARLY IN OUR HOSPITAL SETTINGS.

ONCE AGAIN, I DO WANT TO SAY, WE WERE FORTUNATE.

OUR FIVE DBHDD HOSPITALS WERE PRIORITIZED.

AFTER THOSE EARLY DAYS, THOSE TESTING AND PPE CONFUSION AND ACCESS, WE PRETTY RAPIDLY GOT A HOLD OF ADEQUATE TESTING, AND PPE, AND WE STILL MONITOR PP E-COM APPLIANCE EVERY DAY IN OUR HOSPITAL SETTING, IT'S VERY HIGH, WHAT WE WANT TO ASSURE OUR EMPLOYEES, THAT WHEN YOU COME TO DO THIS DEDICATED WORK, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> I KNOW THERE ARE LAWMAKERS ALSO INTERESTED IN 16-BED FACILITIES FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN PARTICULAR.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> YES, SO THIS WILL BE A FIRST OF ITS KIND IN GEORGIA.

WELL, WHAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE CALLED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTERS, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE AROUND THE STATE.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY YEAR OVER YEAR HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE IN HELPING US TO PLACE THESE CRISIS CENTERS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES ALL AROUND THE STATE.

THESE SERVE INDIVIDUALS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR AN ADDICTION CRISIS.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EQUIPPED TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

THEY NEED A DIFFERENT KIND OF HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED RESPONSE WHEN THEY ARE IN A CRISIS.

SO WHAT WE'VE PROPOSED IS BUILDING A SPECIALIZED UNIT WHERE INDIVIDUALS COULD GO IN CRISIS, WHERE WE COULD BOTH RESOLVE THAT CRISIS, BUT REALLY HAVE SOME SPECIALIZED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, SO THIS WILL BE A SMALL FACILITY, IT WILL SERVE THE ENTIRE STATE, BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WHILE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT NEED THE SERVICE, WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN CRISIS, IT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON ALL OF THE SYSTEMS THAT THEY TOUCH, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE NATIONAL EVIDENCE IS, AND TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT CAN BE UNIQUELY RESPONSIVE FOR THIS SPECIAL POPULATION.

>> AND SO AS WE WRAP UP, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS 988 NUMBER THAT WILL COME TO THE SCC, MAYBE BY 2022, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> TELL US WHAT 988 WOULD BE.

>> YOU'VE GOT IT RIGHT.

SO 988, A FEDERAL LAW WAS PASSED IN 2020, DESIGNATING 988 AS I THINK THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT IT IS, IT'S THE 911 OF SUICIDE PREVENTION.

WHEN YOU DIAL 988, AFTER 2022, IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOT LINE.

BUT ACTUALLY, THE NUMBER, THE CALLERS ARE GOING TO GET ROUTED BACK TO THEIR STATE.

SO GEORGIA, JUST LIKE EVERY STATE, IS IN THIS RAPID BUILDUP PHASE.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ADEQUATE PEOPLE MANNING THOSE LINES, TO RESPOND, THE TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE VOLUME OF CALLS WE ARE ANTICIPATING, AND THEN THE SYSTEMS, RIGHT, BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WE WANT TO RESPOND IN THAT MOMENT OF CRISIS, BUT WE WANT TO PREVENT A CRISIS, AND THEN AFTER THAT POINT OF CRISIS, WE WANT TO LINK PEOPLE BACK TO TREATMENT THAT WILL WORK.

SO WE THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY WHAT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS, AND IT WAS TRUE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, IT'S STILL TRUE NOW, IS THE WORK FORCE TO ACTUALLY DO THIS WORK.

PEOPLE AT THE FRONT LINE, PROVIDING TREATMENT, LICENSED CLINICIANS, FOR CHILDREN, FOR ADULTS, ALL THE WAY UP TO PSYCHIATRISTS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

WE HAVE WORK FORCE CHALLENGES.

BUT WE THINK 988 IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS, AND TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE REAL, BUT THAT TREATMENT WORKS.

>> I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD FOR TALKING WITH ME.

>>> COMING UP, TWO LAWMAKERS WILL JOIN ME AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

INCLUDING THE RISE IN DRUG ABUSE CASES IN GEORGIA.

STAY WITH US.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

WE CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WITH TWO LAWMAKERS WHO CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE AGENCY.

IT'S THE WORKERS AND THE PATIENTS.

REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE KATIE DEMPSEY OF ROME, A MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHELLY HUTCHINSON, OF SNELLVILLE, A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, AND THE SOCIAL EMPLOYMENT CENTER ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES OUTREACH AND TREATMENT CENTER.

WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" BOTH OF YOU.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD MENTIONED.

ANYTHING THAT STICKS OUT IN PARTICULAR TO YOU?

>> THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD IN HER INTRODUCE.

MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS TRULY THE WORD CRISIS AND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

NOT ONLY ARE WE OVERWHELMED BUT THOSE WHO ARE GOES THROUGH THAT CRISIS ARE SO OVERWHELMED, SO TO FIND A WAY, THAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUDGET, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT SHE JUST SPOKE TO, IT IS JUST, IT'S A BLESSING FOR THIS TIME, IN GEORGIA'S ECONOMY, ACTUALLY.

>> AND IT TRULY IS A SAFETY NET ORGANIZATION, AS AN AGENCY FOR GEORGIA, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE ARE IN CRISIS, WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THAT'S THE AGENCY WE GO TO, AND IT'S SUCH, THEY HAVE SOME REALLY BRILLIANT PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR DBHDD.

THEY HAVE A DEEP, DEEP BENCH AND JUST HEARING HER TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPANDED SERVICES, IT'S EXCITING.

>> LET'S GET INTO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH PART OF THE FISCAL 2022 BUDGET AND THEY INCLUDE $9.2 MILLION, IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SERVICES FOR 7,000 MORE GEORGIANS.

$7 MILLION FOR A CRISIS CENTER, FOR THE INTELLECTUALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND $107,000 FOR SUICIDE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS SO LET'S BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT THE 7,000 MORE GEORGIANS WHO WILL BE SERVED, THAT IS PRETTY EXCITING ACTUALLY, TO THINK ABOUT.

>> IT IS.

BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE TOTAL PICTURE, IT'S MANY THOUSANDS.

EVEN BEYOND 7.

BECAUSE THAT IS IN ONE SPECIFIC COMPONENT.

THE SERVICES THAT WILL GO OUT TO GEORGIANS THROUGH THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUDGET ARE ALMOST HARD TO ADD UP ACTUALLY, AND THEN THE PROVIDERS, THOSE WHO HAVE JOBS IN THAT FIELD, THE EXPANSION, IN THE WORK FORCE, THERE IS GREAT IMPACT TO ADDRESSING MANY NEEDS.

>> RIGHT.

YOU'RE IN THE FIELD ALL THE TIME.

AS A PROVIDER.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND HOW THIS MIGHT HELP.

EVEN A LITTLE BIT.

>> SO I THINK WHAT SHE WAS SAYING ABOUT HOW THIS HAS BROUGHT ATTENTION TO ADDICTION, AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, THAT IS 100% TRUE.

AND FIRST LADY OBAMA WAS VERY OPEN ABOUT THE DEPRESSION ISSUE, SHE WAS FEELING DURING THIS COVID TIME, AND AFTER THAT, A LOT OF PEOPLE STARTED SAYING, YES, I FEEL THAT, AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT IT, SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AREN'T JUST SLEEPING ALL THE TIME, OR NOT CARING ABOUT ANYTHING, SOME OF IT IS YOU'RE JUST NOT AS PRODUCTIVE AS YOU USED TO BE, OR YOU'RE NOT MEETING THE GOALS AS QUICKLY AS YOU WOULD HAVE IN THE PAST, SO WHEN WE START LOOKING AT DEPRESSION FROM A DIFFERENT LENS, I THINK EVERYONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SEEING HOW THEY MAY HAVE HAD THAT, A LITTLE BIT, OR A LOT, IN THEIR OWN LIVES.

>> AND IT'S REDUCING THE STIGMA.

>> IT IS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER, $7 MILLION FOR THE CRISIS CENTER, FOR THE INTELLECTUALLY AND THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.

THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE IN GEORGIA, A CENTER LIKE THIS.

WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT FOR THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION?

>> THERE ISN'T ONE EXACTLY LIKE THIS ANYWHERE IN THE NATION.

IT WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.

SO IT'S VERY CUTTING EDGE.

THIS POPULATION, THE NEEDS ARE VERY DIFFERENT WHEN THEY ARE IN A CRISIS, WHEN YOU'RE OFTEN DEALING WITH DUAL DIAGNOSIS, AND IT MAY BE SOMEONE WHO HAS, ANY SORT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THEY'RE FEELING THE PANIC, THE STRUGGLE, ALL KINDS OF ISSUE, IT COULD BE DEPRESSION, IT COULD BE THE ISOLATION, SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, BUT IT TAKES VERY ATTUNED SENSITIVE PRO ACTIVE WORKERS THAT ARE SO DIFFERENT FROM JUST DEALING WITH REGULAR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

EACH AND EVERY PERSON NO DOUBT IS AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER THEY HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

EACH CASE IS VERY DIFFERENT.

BUT TO REALLY FOCUS ON THIS, AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED QUICKLY, NOT ONLY DIAGNOSED, THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT, TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A DIAGNOSIS THAT'S CORRECT, BUT THEN THAT THE TREATMENT CAN BRING THEM BACK TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN DO BETTER.

THEY CAN.

AS COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD SAYS, THIS, SO MUCH OF THIS IS TREATABLE.

BUT IT'S THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS, THE RIGHT TREATMENT, AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME THAT IMPACTS IT.

>> AND RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CENTER WILL BE, BUT IT WILL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE STATE.

>> WE DON'T.

>> THE LAST THING ON THAT BUDGET WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE SUICIDE EPIDEMIOLOGIST.

HOW IMPORTANT IS HAVING SOMEONE IN THAT POSITION, AND WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING WE DO SAVES LIVES AND A LIFE SAVED IS PRICELESS SO HAVING SOMEONE AM THAT POSITION TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE IN HOW WE PREVENT SUICIDE NOW WHICH IS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CYBER BULLYING, AND THINGS THAT WE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH BEFORE, EVEN MEDICATIONS, SOME PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU CHANGE MEDICATIONS, YOU BECOME MUCH MORE AT RISK FOR SUICIDE.

SOME DOCTORS WILL SAY THAT IF YOU'RE DEPRESSED AND YOU'RE ON AN ANTI-DEPRESSANT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THEY SWITCH YOUR ANTI-DEPRESSANT, THAT MIGHT ELEVATE YOU JUST ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THE ACT OF SUICIDE.

SO THERE'S SO MANY NUANCES AROUND THIS, TO HAVE AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST, IS INCREDIBLE.

>> TO DIG INTO THE DATA AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE, AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE, THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET INTO, THIS PART OF THE INTERVIEW ON THE SHOW, WAS THE RISE IN DRUG ABUSE, THAT WE REALLY SAW.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE OPIOID ABUSE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF NUMBERS?

>> GEORGIA HAD A PROBLEM.

IT HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE COVID-19.

AND THE ISOLATION I THINK HAS HELPED TO INCREASE THAT PROBLEM.

SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT MORE AND MORE AND WE NEED TO HELP -- I WAS SO FASCINATED ACTUALLY DURING COVID, PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF THE PEER SUPPORT GROUPS THAT CONTINUED ON ZOOM, AND TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH OTHERS, AND TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP, AND TO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS UNIQUELY YOUR PROBLEM.

THAT THERE ARE OTHERS TO HELP YOU GO THROUGH THAT.

SO THERE'S MUCH WE ARE DOING AND MUCH MORE WE CAN, NO DOUBT.

>> I HEARD YOU AGREEING, AND I KNOW YOU DO TELE-HEALTH, BUT YOU DID SOME ZOOMS WITH SOME OF YOUR PATIENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE ALMOST ALL ZOOM, EVEN NOW, OUR TELE-MED, IT IS NOT ALWAYS ZOOM, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICULARLY RURAL AREA, WE RECENTLY EXPANDED TO GO TO STEVENS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY, WHICH ARE AREAS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO REACH.

BUT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE.

WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS MUCH, MUCH MORE.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO PIVOT.

AFTER A WHILE, WE FIGURED OUT WHAT WE WERE DOING, AND GET TO MORE PEOPLE, IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

I WANT TO GET TO THE 288 BEFORE WE FORGET BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER, THAT JUST LIKE 911 WAS, NATIONWIDE, THAT THE 288 WILL BE -- I'M SORRY, I KEEP SAYING 288, IT'S 988.

988 WILL BE A GAME CHANGER IN TERMS OF PEOPLE, HEARING ONE NUMBER AND KNOWING THAT'S WHAT I CALL FOR HELP IN A CRISIS.

>> IT REALLY WILL BE THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

BECAUSE PERHAPS SOMEONE MIGHT BE TRAVELING EVEN AND HAVE THAT HAPPEN AND THEY'RE IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE AND FEEL THAT URGENCY, IT WILL BE GREAT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONNECT TO SERVICES THROUGH THAT.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS, THOUGH, TRULY, IS THAT GEORGIA HAS DONE MUCH ALREADY THROUGH MARGIE CALLEN, TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS.

WE WERE AHEAD OF THE CURVE A LITTLE BIT, WILL IT TAKE MORE WORK, YES, BUT THIS IS SO PROFOUND, THE NUMBERS OF CALLS THAT COME IN TODAY, FOR GEORGIA, AND COME BACK TO GEORGIA, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THAT ESTABLISHED SERVICE HERE, IS SO IMPORTANT, THE LINE WILL CONNECT YOU BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE CALLING, IT WILL GET YOU GEORGIA RESOURCES, IF YOU'RE IN GEORGIA.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT IS THAT QUICK INTERVENTION, AND QUICK TIMING TO HELP, TO LISTEN, AND TO HELP IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY.

>> MY G-CAL THAT I HAVE, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW AND IT WORKS.

>> IT WORKS GREAT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST SERVICES THAT WE HAVE, AND THE STAFF THAT ANSWERED THE PHONE ARE VERY WELL TRAINED, AND IT'S REALLY A GREAT RESOURCE.

>> OKAY.

WELL, AS ALWAYS, WE CAN TALK FOR AN HOUR ON THIS BUT WE CAN'T.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, FOR "LAWMAKERS," BE SURE TO TUNE IN MONDAY, FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 36.

GOOD NIGHT.