‘We’ve got to dig in’: Gov. DeSantis said state needs to focus on providing mental health, addiction services during pandemic

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Fewer people in Florida are seeking services for mental health and substance abuse, yet the number of overdose deaths are going up.

Gov. Ron DeSantis joined health leaders at a round table on those subjects at AdventHealth in Altamonte Springs on Wednesday.

“We know we’re in for a long road ahead,” DeSantis said.

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He said COVID-19 has made the opioid crisis more challenging.

“We’ve got to dig in,” DeSantis said. “We have to be able to juggle multiple balls, we’ve got to be able to handle more than one problem when it comes to health care.”

DeSantis also emphasized the need for a continued community-wide approach to the substance abuse and availability of mental health resources.

That’s the reason, he said, he increased funding of $100 million for schools and mental health amid a billion dollars in vetoes.

The secretary for the Department of Children and Families said also of concern is the 40% decrease in calls of child and sexual abuse amid the pandemic.

The hope, they said, is that by talking about all of these areas now it reminds people that help is available and continues to lift the stigma around seeking services.

Watch the event in full below:

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