On this special edition of Your Call, we'll find out why Kaiser Permanente therapists, social workers, and other mental health workers are on a five-day strike across California.
Mental health workers say Kaiser doesn’t provide timely mental health care to its patients. The strike is meant to draw attention to long wait times – sometimes months at a time – for patients trying to get follow-up appointments to address depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. Workers are calling for increased hiriing, a focus on retention, and pay increases.
Guest:
Ken Rogers, psychologist at Kaiser for 15 years, shop steward, and strike organizer in Roseville, CA
Web Resources:
Sacramento Bee: Thousands of nurses, behavioral health workers picket Kaiser statewide over patient care
USA Today: Will your therapist go on strike? 4,000 mental health workers protesting Kaiser Permanente
