Stacey Abrams told a personal story in Savannah Thursday to bring home the message of why expanding mental health services in the state of Georgia is important to her.

She said it was about her brother Walter, someone she described as smart and funny and who had spent time in his life in trouble.

“He wandered for years in and out of rehab, but it wasn’t until he was imprisoned for the first time in 2014 that he was diagnosed as bi-polar and the reality is that Walter’s story is not new,” she said. “Across the state of Georgia, the number one provider of mental health care is our prison system.”

The Democratic nominee told reporters she wants to be a governor that makes changes:

“And I want to make certain that Georgia does better by those who need our help because they need treatment, not incarceration.  Now, this is not to say that public safety isn’t important and my brother went to prison because he committed crimes and he should be held accountable, but we are also accountable for making sure that those who need help and access to services can get those services in the state of Georgia but right now they can’t. Georgia is ranked as the 8th worst state in the nation for access to mental health care.” 

Abrams has a long list of changes including providing ways to get more social works and psychologists in all parts of our state including rural communities.  She says getting care should not depend on your zip code.

“Because Georgia does not have enough mental health professionals and as the next governor I will solve that problem and this will also make our schools safer because we know that mental health care is directly linked to violence,” Abrams said. 

Abrams favors expanding Medicaid and says she intends to help the many in Georgia who rely on the Affordable Care Act. Because everyone understands that pre-existing conditions go back on the chopping block if the ACA is threatened.

“Unfortunately, I have an opponent (Brian Kemp) who’s voted to do that in the past. I will be the one who protects access to health care in the state of Georgia not simply by defending the Affordable Care Act, but by expanding Medicaid,” she explained.

Abrams acknowledges, however, that expanding Medicaid must be something done by state lawmakers.

She said as governor she would “challenge lawmakers to understand that if they want to progress in their communities that providing healthcare is the way to promote not only a healthy population but a healthy economy.”

Abrams also unveiled plans to serve those with Alzheimer’s Disease and disabilities.