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Lawmakers Seek Changes To Mental Health Treatment

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Florida House of Representatives
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

In the wake of the Newtown elementary school shooting, Florida lawmakers are looking at ways to better treat the mentally ill, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Experts say two-thirds of the mentally ill in Florida go without treatment. Meanwhile, the state ranks 49th in the nation on spending, with more funds going to hospitalization than prevention, the Palm Beach Post reports.

That is unsettling to the lawmakers on the Healthy Families Subcommittee who are calling for changes to how the $723 million mental health budget is spent, the Miami Heraldreports.

Lottie Watts covers health and health policy for Health News Florida, now a part of WUSF Public Media. She also produces Florida Matters, WUSF's weekly public affairs show.