Beginning Monday, August 6th, Fred Hubbell, Democratic nominee for governor and Rita Hart, State Senator and Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, will launch a statewide tour to meet with mental health providers and Iowans affected by the ongoing mental health crisis. Organizers say the tour will highlight the Hubbell-Hart commitment to investing in mental health care across urban and rural Iowa.

As part of the tour, Senator Hart will take part in a Shelby County Rural Mental Health Discussion on Tuesday, beginning at 2-p.m., at Rosa Blanda Farms (1027 1400th St, Harlan). That same day, Fred Hubbell will participate in a Pottawattamie County Mental Health Roundtable at the Council Bluffs Public Library (2nd Floor, Meeting Room D, 400 Willow Ave.), beginning at 2:30-p.m.

According to the Treatment Advocacy Center in 2016, Iowa ranks “dead last in the number of psychiatric treatment beds available per capita,” and “47th in the number of psychiatrists licensed to provide care.” The Hubbell Campaign says “Unlike Governor Reynolds who has not only failed to address the mental health crisis but cut mental health funding, Fred and his wife Charlotte have personally helped fund increasing mental health beds and adding two new psychiatrists at Broadlawns Medical Center.

“Following a statewide mental health tour with patients and providers last December, the Hubbell campaign released a substantive mental health plan to invest in community based treatment, including adding 50-75 long-term care beds, establishing a youth mental health system, and investing in diversion and substance abuse programs.”