LANSING, Mich., Jan. 26, 2022 — Tonight Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave her State of the State Address, delivering a message of unity, strength and compassion. State Rep. Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield) issued the following statement:

“I was pleased to hear Gov. Whitmer’s plan to expand access to mental health. Many of the themes the governor shared tonight are what we’ve been hearing throughout our Mental Health Listening Tour. Issues such as access, workforce recruitment and retention, and mental health parity were all common challenges cited. I was particularly excited to hear about Gov. Whitmer’s plans to make strategic investments in the mental health workforce. These investments will be crucial in retaining and recruiting mental health care providers to Michigan. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that mental health is covered at the same level of care as other health conditions. I remain hopeful with the governor’s leadership on this issue. We will continue to make great strides towards improving access to mental health care in Michigan.”