OKLAHOMA CITY —
In a move that has left mental health professionals and patients alike scratching their heads, Governor Kevin Stitt announced today that “mental health” will no longer be recognized as a medical field in Oklahoma but will instead be reclassified under the Department of Arts and Humanities as a “fictional genre.”
“After reviewing the latest budget reports and consulting with top advisors, we’ve concluded that mental health is more of a narrative construct than a medical reality,” Stitt stated at a press conference held at the Oklahoma State Capitol. “Therefore, we’re reallocating resources to more tangible concerns.”
Effective Immediately
- Therapists and counselors will be reassigned as “narrative consultants” within the state’s burgeoning creative writing programs.
- Psychiatric facilities will be transformed into “imaginative retreats” where individuals can explore their personal stories in a supportive, fictional context.
- Mental health hotlines will now offer storytelling prompts to help callers craft their own narratives.
The decision has sparked outrage among mental health advocates.
“This is not just a slap in the face to those struggling with mental illness; it’s a complete denial of their reality,” said Dr. Linda Martinez, a clinical psychologist based in Tulsa. “Mental health conditions are not fictional. They are real, diagnosable, and treatable.”
In response to the backlash, Governor Stitt’s office released a follow-up statement:
“We believe this innovative approach will empower Oklahomans to take control of their personal narratives. By framing mental health as a story, individuals can rewrite their own endings.”
Critics argue that this policy change is a thinly veiled attempt to cut funding for essential mental health services under the guise of creative reclassification.
“It’s a budgetary maneuver, plain and simple,” said State Senator James Caldwell. “By labeling mental health as fiction, the administration is absolving itself of responsibility to provide necessary care.”
As the state grapples with the implications of this decision, mental health professionals are left in limbo, unsure of their roles in this new narrative-driven framework.
“I became a therapist to help people navigate their mental health challenges,” said Sarah Thompson, a licensed counselor in Oklahoma City. “Now I’m being told to help them write short stories instead.”
At press time, the governor’s office announced plans to host a statewide “Mental Health Fiction Festival” to celebrate the new classification, featuring workshops on crafting compelling character arcs and overcoming narrative obstacles.
