Kentuckiana Times

Suzanne Crouch, the former Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, has highlighted the state's severe shortage of psychiatric beds and called for an urgent expansion of behavioral health treatment access. Crouch made this statement in an op-ed on April 1.

"The United States is in a behavioral health crisis, and Indiana is no exception," said Crouch. "We must prioritize action to expand access to treatment. Without offering adequate treatment capacity, more Hoosiers will suffer, more families will grieve, and more communities will bear the weight of untreated mental illness."

According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, Indiana falls short of the minimum benchmark for psychiatric bed capacity. The state had only 815 state psychiatric hospital beds available as of 2023, equating to 11.9 beds per 100,000 people. This is significantly below the minimum 50 beds per 100,000 population that mental health experts consider necessary to adequately meet public needs. Consequently, many individuals experiencing acute mental health crises are left without timely or appropriate care, often ending up in emergency rooms or correctional facilities.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 28.9 million individuals aged 12 and older suffered from an alcohol use disorder in the past year alone. Additionally, 48.7 million people had a substance use disorder involving illicit drugs. These statistics indicate a dual crisis of addiction and inadequate treatment infrastructure. Particularly concerning is the prevalence among young adults, where over half of those aged 18 to 25 reported experiencing either a mental illness or a substance use disorder.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the financial toll of untreated mental illness in Indiana is both alarming and unsustainable, placing significant burdens on individuals, families, and public systems. A study published in JAMA Network estimated that Indiana incurs $4.2 billion annually due to untreated mental health conditions. This figure includes $3.3 billion in indirect costs such as lost productivity and absenteeism, $708.5 million in direct healthcare expenses, and $185.4 million in non-healthcare-related costs including law enforcement and housing.

Crouch is a lifelong Hoosier from Evansville with decades of public service experience, including roles as State Auditor, State Representative, and Vanderburgh County Commissioner. As Lieutenant Governor, she champions mental health initiatives while overseeing key state agencies and serving as President of the Indiana Senate.