Andrade hosts mental health roundtable

MUNSTER, Ind. — State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) held a Mental Health Roundtable with Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch to address mental health needs and resources in the community. Participants in the roundtable included Angelica Arreola, President of the Indiana Counseling Association; Dr. Brian Dieckmann, Clinical Psychologist at Regional Mental Health; and Erica Rios, Social Service Coordinator at the Griffith Police Department.

Rep. Andrade released the following statement on the roundtable:

“Mental health affects every aspect of our daily lives, from our ability to perform daily tasks to influencing one’s sense of self-worth. It must be treated with the same importance as physical health. Far too often, mental health has been stigmatized in our society as something we don’t talk about openly. I hope this roundtable is the first step in our community to normalize discussions about the mental health crisis happening in our state.

“I am grateful to my fellow panelists for sharing their unique expertise on this critical issue. We must continue to normalize conversations like these and work toward expanding access to provider care and other community resources. I will continue to support policies that spread awareness in our community and ensure all Hoosiers have access to mental health care.”