The lack of behavioral health facilities and professionals in this area has been identified as a key issue in the treatment of behavioral health and substance abuse issues.
Northland Pioneer College President Dr. Chatto Hazelbaker spoke about this in last month’s Navajo County Community College District Governing Board meeting. He said, “Behavioral health is a giant issue in the region. They call it ‘depths of despair’. If you look at alcohol, suicide and drugs, our rate is three times the state average.”
Not only is Navajo County particularly affected, but so is the entire state of Arizona. As Hazelbaker pointed out, “There is a critical shortage of people who do behavioral health and addiction counseling statewide.”
The Arizona state legislature has noticed this problem as well and recently introduced House Bill 2691 that will create a behavioral health workforce, improve access to care and create more jobs and treatment options in Navajo County.
According to a press release by NPC, “A key provision in the bill would provide a three-year grant to create a behavioral health technician program at NPC. The program would provide training and education needed to fill these high-demand positions.”
The bill has passed the Senate appropriations committee and is currently pending in the Senate rules committee.
If the bill makes it through the legislature this session, it will mean NPC could receive monies to begin developing programs immediately.
Hazelbaker continued, “NPC would be in line for a grant from the State of Arizona to implement this behavioral health technician program. This would offer either a two-year degree or a start on their way to getting additional licensure. Students in Navajo and Apache counties could get the education they need right here, to solve a local problem in an industry where there are obviously openings.”
A study published by the National Library of Medicine explained that areas of low-income experience mental and behavioral health issues as well as suicide and other mental health struggles at an exponential rate. In Navajo County, 27.9% of the population live below the poverty line according to the United States Census Bureau.
Hazelbaker addressed that as well. He said, “This program would be a direct response to a community need. Navajo County’s suicide rate is 32 per 100,000, nearly twice that of the State of Arizona. Add to that the number of alcohol related deaths which is three times the state average at 65.9 deaths per 100,000.”
In addition, the Navajo Nation is affected by suicide and substance abuse at a much higher rate as well, according to Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. In a press release, Nez said, “This is one of the leading causes of death on our nation and among our young people.”
Public health departments and other organizations in the region have attempted to tackle these issues over the last several years, Hazelbaker said. “Community and government organizations have developed the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) which is focused on improving mental health and substance abuse programs. A key barrier identified in that plan is a lack of facilities and licensed professionals. House Bill 2691 can help address that head on. It is vital to helping our communities meet behavioral health challenges and has the added benefit of providing jobs where we most need them.”
Hazelbaker then encouraged Navajo County residents to contact their legislators to express their support of House Bill 2691.
District 7 legislators are Jasmin Blackwater-Nygren (D), Myron Tsosie (D) and Theresa Hatathlie (D). Their contact information can be found at www.azleg.gov.
