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We talk with Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra about why mental health care so often lands in the justice system and what it takes to change that through smart legislation and real implementation. 

We dig into funding, workforce, 988 crisis response, diversion programs, and how communities can push practical mental health reform that actually reaches people. 

• her path from prosecutor work to mental health court and forensic mental health 
• why jails and prisons function as default mental health hospitals 
• the biggest legislative roadblocks: funding levels and views of individual liberty 
• assisted outpatient treatment in Washington and why implementation varies by county 
• how Washington built a stakeholder-driven model to implement 988 
• oversight, metrics, and the workforce shortage that blocks care even with funding 
• rural mental health access, telehealth, and consultation lines like PAL 
• diversion options from first law enforcement contact through jail re-entry supports 
• sharing best practices across states through conferences, data, and evidence 
• community-driven policymaking and contacting elected officials with solutions 

If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. 
One last thing spread the word about why not me. 

INTRO/OUTRO Music: T. Wild

Mantor Music BMI

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intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild
Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)