New LA Surgeon General: Mental health is job 1

New Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham says mental health is his initial priority as he takes the job.

Following the pandemic and the state’s numerous natural disasters, he says residents are feeling the impacts emotionally.

“Being a practicing physician I saw a lot more depression and anxiety.  Those mental health issues that take you out of work and out of your social life.  So its a really big problem that we have to deal with,” said Abraham.

The doctor says he also wants to change policies he says have been holding the state back from providing better health care.

Currently, there are 1.7 million Louisianans enrolled in Medicaid. Abraham says their goal at the Louisiana Department of Health is to give citizens help so they can continue to work and have health care.

“Hopefully as time goes on, and their living situation improves, then we can transition them to the exchange or a commercial insurance,” he said.