Press Releases

County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant joined County Board leadership in highlighting accomplishments in the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Budget, which invests in key priorities while maintaining balanced spending. The $793 million package, which was passed unanimously today by the County Board, increases funding for public safety agencies, the Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Will-Ride transportation program.

The impact of the pandemic on social determinants of health, such as employment, income levels, and housing and food security has led to a growing concern regarding the long-term impact on mental health. These factors are also leading to new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. During the pandemic, four in 10 adults in the U.S. reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Isolation and limited recovery supports increasing risk for relapse and fatal overdose

The prolonged coronavirus pandemic has created many unintended consequences. Sixty-two percent of Americans have reported feeling more anxious this year compared with last year, according to a public opinion poll released recently by the American Psychiatric Association. The COVID-19 pandemic is first a physical health crisis, but it is also fueling a major mental and behavioral health crisis.