State health officials want to shift $6.5 million to expand mental health crisis response
Published on March 18, 2026.
The Louisiana Department of Health is seeking to allocate $6.5 million to expand its crisis response system due to concerns about rising mental health issues. The extra funds would be used to fund a new statewide hub that supports the Louisiana Crisis Response System. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 838,000 adults in Louisiana had a mental health condition as of March 2025, three times the size of Baton Rouge's population. However, over 3 million people in Louisiana live in communities without enough mental health professionals. The new crisis hub will allow for greater coverage of all aspects of the crisis system across the state. There are also concerns about the effectiveness of the 988 Helpline and students' awareness of resources.
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