Platte County Voters Decide on Youth Mental Health Tax

In November, residents of Platte County, Missouri, have a big choice to make. They'll vote on whether to add a small sales tax to help children and teens with their mental health. The idea started because there aren't enough mental health services in the county for the number of kids who need them. Dennis Meier, who works at Synergy Services, is pushing for this change. He says a nine-person board will decide which local groups get the money, which could be around $5 million each year. Commissioner Joe Vanover isn't sure about all this. He thinks parents and caregivers should handle these issues, not the government. He worries the money might be spent on things some people wouldn't agree with. But Meier thinks it's worth a try, pointing to similar funds in nearby counties that have helped a lot of kids. You might be wondering why this is a big deal. Well, a lot of teens in the U. S. are struggling. Data shows nearly half feel sad or hopeless, and some even think about suicide. Meier wants to help before things get bad, as it can be cheaper in the long run. Absentee voting starts soon, so people can vote early if they want. There are resources for those who need help now.