Senators Focus Efforts on Mental Health in America
Mental Health in America
Those of us with mental health issues aren’t the only ones with the unenviable task of keeping our sanity. In fact, there are over 800,000 suicides reported in the US each year. It’s no wonder that elected officials are wary of the topic. In a nutshell, the most important factor in the successful prevention of suicide is good education. According to a recent poll by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly one-third of Americans say they are afraid of individuals with mental health issues. A similar survey revealed that just over eight percent of the population is likely to be treated for a mental health condition. In short, there is a lot of mistrust and a lot of stigma.
To its credit, the American Psychiatric Association commissioned a study to come up with a set of recommended guidelines. The resulting recommendations are being rolled out to state capitals across the country. These recommendations are meant to be a blueprint for improving mental health care delivery in the states. A key component of this plan is the PACT Act. It expands health care benefits for burn pit victims. The legislation is a step in the right direction, but it’s still a work in progress.
The aforementioned PACT Act hasn’t been embraced by the majority of the nation’s elected officials, but there are signs of life in the capitol city. Specifically, Senators Cassidy and Murphy, who serve on the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee, have been working hard to rewrite the book on mental health legislation. They have also been adamant about the importance of improving access to care, a topic that AFSCME President Lee Saunders has a special place in his heart.
While we can’t say for certain that the PACT Act is the best solution to a broken system, we can be confident that it’s the first in a long line of reforms that will make Louisiana a better place to live. In the mean time, it’s important to keep your spirits high as the rest of the country continues to fight the good fight. The following are some of the most interesting and enlightening members of the Louisiana delegation: Bill Cassidy, M.D., Republican; Chris Murphy, D., Democratic; and Ruben Gallego, D., Republican.
