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    4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Why does behavioral health matter? Behavioral health is an important issue to discuss because it has real effects on the well-being of people. Often behavioral health conditions can cause problems with peoples’ ability to work, take care of their families, take care of their physical health, or otherwise lead a normal life. MORE
    What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges? California should ensure funding is set aside for these issues. Also there should be incentives put in place to help spur research into these challenges to help solve problems in the future. MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? Behavioral health issues exist on a large spectrum, from more minor cases to extremely severe. Education needs to be made available to the general public to better understand behavioral health issues. If the public interprets behavioral health issues as only extreme cases of mental health or addiction problems then stigma will continue to exist. Behavioral health can affect all kinds of people, rich, poor, young or old and the public should be aware of this. MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? Yes. MORE
  • full q+a
    4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Why does behavioral health matter? Behavioral health matters because it covers a variety of issues. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental illnesses affect a fair amount of people. It is important that those suffering do not feel like there is something wrong with getting help. MORE
    What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges? California should help increase access to care for those with mental health and substance use challenges by funding clinics and encouraging coverage in private insurance plans. Help especially for veterans is important. MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? California can do a lot to destigmatize behavioral health conditions through advertising and outreach. MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? Yes I will commit to embracing behavioral health. MORE
  • full q+a
    4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Why does behavioral health matter? Behavioral health has huge impacts on individuals, their families, and society. MORE
    What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges? Adopt and improve the best current programs found worldwide using a multi-solving approach. For example, people do much better with recovery from addiction in stable housing and where drug use has been decriminalized. Individuals suffer much less, and the financial costs to society decrease for medical treatment and policing where homelessness is solved. Universal health care including behavioral health will have wonderful impacts over time and I support that wholeheartedly. MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? True life stories of healing can be wonderfully informative, empowering and inspiring. I recently watched videos of numerous people who recovered from debilitating depression and/or anxiety with either diet and/or supplements and/or therapy. Many of these healed people are now helping others to also heal. Medications can be an important part of healing, but are not always necessary and some have serious side effects. MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? Absolutely. MORE
  • full q+a
    4 QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
    Why does behavioral health matter? Behavioral health matters for the same reason that our physical health matters. Without regular awareness, our lives are put at risk. Every day we see the implications of behavioral health in our lives. It affects our mental health, spiritual health, marriages, family & friend relationships, and our future generations. MORE
    What steps should California take to increase access to care for those with mental illness and substance use challenges? I believe the first, and most important, step for California is to support and increase education on mental and behavioral health programs/treatment to our communities. Many Californians, including those in my district, struggle with mental health and substance abuse, but are not aware of the resources available to them to seek care. Supporting open dialogues on mental health will help break the common stigmas surrounding the topic. We must treat mental health and substance abuse as seriously as we would any physical illness. From a federal perspective, if elected to Congress, I will support legislation that provides more access and coverage to mental health services for California communities. MORE
    How can California lead the way in destigmatizing behavioral health conditions? If we talk about behavioral health conditions in an open and honest way, taking care to be inclusive of everyone’s struggle with behavioral health, then it opens the path for destigmatizing behavioral health conditions. Too often, behavioral health conditions are either immediately dismissed or regarded as normally habitual by family, friends, and our community. This issue cannot continue to be swept under the rug. We need to start listening to those who struggle with behavioral health, engage in an open conversation surrounding the issue, and invest time into researching solutions. MORE
    Will you commit to embracing behavioral health as a public policy priority? Absolutely. My wife, Heather Walker Janz, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. As a professional in her field, she has held a large influence over me on this issue. Through my career as a prosecutor, I have seen families, children, women, and my community, struggle with behavioral health. This issue is one that puts thousands of lives at risk every day. It is my priority to embrace behavioral health as an important public policy issue in Congress. MORE
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