“No other state in the country has a higher prevalence of mental illness. At the same time, access to care in Oregon is improving,” said reporter Khushboo Rathore in a recent Willamette Week article.

A recently released 2025 Mental Health America study about the state of mental health in the U.S. ranks Oregonians, youth and adults, as having the highest prevalence of mental health challenges among residents of the 50 states and D.C. While this is deeply concerning, there’s also good news: Oregon is making significant progress towards improving access to mental health services, now ranking seventh for access to care, up from 21st five years ago. But leaders around our state agree that we have more work to do, including Gov. Kotek and Katie McLaughlin, executive director of the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health. Morrison is proud to be part of the solution.

As a leading mental health provider for Oregon’s children and families, we’re taking action in powerful ways: In partnership with the Ballmer Institute, we’re welcoming children’s behavioral health specialist interns into our care teams. These interns are gaining hands-on experience while helping us deliver team-based, outcomes-focused behavioral health services to children.

We’re also launching the SHIFT Initiative with CareOregon, establishing Oregon’s first team-based care model for youth behavioral health at our Beaverton Outpatient Clinic. The initiative aims to build client-driven, outcomes-focused, team-based care models that assure timely care.

This is what it looks like when research, training, and community-based care come together to create real change. Read the full WW article below.