Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the Mahaska Health Partnership hospital in Oskaloosa announced it had closed its inpatient psychiatric unit. Rural areas in Iowa and across the country are facing a critical shortage of options to help treat those suffering from mental health problems.

“I, like so many others, have personally felt the effects of mental illness in my family, having been raised by a mother who struggled with mental illness throughout her life. There are far more people seeking help than available beds and this trend of hospitals closing up their inpatient psychiatric units is very concerning. We must improve access to services and treatments, and bring mental health up to parity with physical health by treating the brain as a part of the body. We must continue to work to bolster both critical infrastructure and funding in Iowa and across the country so those who are in the need of mental health services can get the care they need and deserve.”

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