SOUTHERN OREGON – Chris Bouneff, the long-time executive director of NAMI Oregon, gathered with Southern Oregon community leaders in Medford on Thursday to address the region’s mounting mental health crisis and advocate for crucial state-level policy changes.
The collaborative meeting brought together heavy-hitters in regional advocacy, including United Way of Jackson County CEO Dee Anne Everson, Lines for Life CEO Dwight Holton, and YouthLine outreach coordinator Pan Hamsa. Senator Jeff Golden and Senator Wyden’s staff also attended to hear Bouneff present stark data on systemic failures, specifically saying that half of all lifetime mental illness cases begin by age 14.
Bouneff has helmed NAMI Oregon for 17 years and spent decades fighting for behavioral health parity. He showed how a staggering eight-year delay from the onset of first symptoms to receiving appropriate treatment often drives individuals into emergency rooms or the criminal justice system. He also presented data arguing that the primary barrier to treatment is not social stigma, but rather exorbitant costs, which prevent more than 63% of individuals from accessing necessary care.
“I think a challenge is less stigma associated with reaching out for help, which is giving people the confidence now to reach out for help, and that you don’t have to have a diagnosis. Your symptoms don’t have to be if you’re depressed, it doesn’t have to be debilitating to be able to avail yourself of assistance.” – Chris Bouneff, Executive Director of NAMI Oregon
Central to NAMI’s push in the 2026 legislative session is expanding crisis stabilization and addressing severe workforce bottlenecks. Bouneff drew from his recent public testimony for House Bill 4070-A, a bill that would expand crisis stabilization centers and ensure proper health screenings are conducted during brief-intervention care.
Despite the immense systemic challenges, Bouneff remains driven by the impact of grassroots support. The former journalist said that he sustains his energy not just through policy victories, but by directly helping families on the NAMI helpline. He reminded Oregonians that fundamental practices like sleep, a proper diet, and time in nature are vital foundations for mental well-being.
If you or a loved one are struggling, immediate support is available by dialing 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or you can call the NAMI National HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264.
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