Summer 2025 Issue

Letters to the Editor
Social Work Today
Vol. 25 No. 3 P. 5

To the Editor:
Rural African American communities have been experiencing an ongoing gap in mental health care access due to systemic barriers. Many families live at least 30 miles from the nearest provider and often cannot afford the cost. No one should have to choose between receiving mental health treatment and affording gas money. As a result, it’s a cycle of symptoms worsening due to delayed services, frequently traveling long distances to emergency rooms for care, and deteriorating quality of life.1

I grew up in a rural community, Fayette, Mississippi. There was a shortage of culturally competent mental health providers. Today, those same barriers still affect rural African American communities. We have to advocate for policy equity! The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid expansion have improved access to mental health treatment in low-income communities and racial and ethnic groups.2 When states expand Medicaid, people experience better health outcomes, which supports economic stability.3

We must take action. Vote for leaders who support equitable access to health care. Call your legislators and ask them to support the ACA and Medicaid expansion. Share your personal experiences to help influence policymakers. Write letters, send emails, and explain why access to mental health care is important. Share facts with your community.

Don’t give up!

Respectfully,
Dewanna Chambliss-Young, MSW, LCSW

References
1. Haynes TF, Cheney AM, Sullivan JG, et al. Addressing mental health needs: perspectives of African Americans living in the rural South. Psychiatr Serv. 2017;68(6):573-578.

2. Lieff SA, Mijanovich T, Yang L, Silver D. Impacts of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on mental health treatment among low-income adults across racial/ethnic subgroups, 2010–2017. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2024;51(1):57-73.

3. Han X, Nguyen BT, Drope J, Jemal A. Health-related outcomes among the poor: Medicaid expansion vs. non-expansion states. PloS One. 2015;10(12):e0144429.

Dear Editor,
My name is Garrett Elsberry, and I am a current Master of Social Work student at California State University, San Bernardino. I am writing to you regarding a legislative advocacy project I am currently undertaking, highlighting California’s Senate Bill 58 (SB 58), which aimed to decriminalize certain psychedelic substances for therapeutic use. Although Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed this bill in 2023, I believe it remains highly relevant and merits broader awareness among social workers, mental health providers, and the public.

Senate Bill 58 proposed to remove criminal penalties for possessing and utilizing psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and MDMA, substances increasingly recognized for their potential therapeutic benefits. Research consistently shows promising outcomes for psychedelic-assisted therapy, especially in treating PTSD, depression, and anxiety—conditions that social workers frequently encounter in practice. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated that psychedelic therapies, administered within structured therapeutic frameworks, can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD in cases resistant to conventional treatments.

As social workers, it is crucial to advocate for innovative, evidence-based interventions that expand our toolbox for effectively addressing severe and persistent mental health challenges. SB 58 represented an opportunity to promote both mental health equity and client self-determination by enabling broader access to potentially life-changing treatments. Given the increasing acceptance and validation from reputable organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association and the FDA, social workers are uniquely positioned to advocate for responsible legislative changes in this realm.

Through your esteemed publication, I hope to inspire dialogue among our professional community, fostering greater understanding of the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelics. SB 58 offers a chance to redefine how we approach mental health treatment, particularly for those who have exhausted traditional options without relief. Thank you for considering this critical discussion in Social Work Today. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further and appreciate your continued dedication to addressing emerging trends and innovations in social work practice.

Respectfully,
Garrett Elsberry
MSW candidate at California State University, San Bernardino